Orchestrating ATTITUDE Getting the Best from Yourself and Others LEE J. COLAN Copyright c Lee J. Colan

or•che•strate \Ôr-'ki -stra¯ t\   verb To arrange or control the elements of; as to achieve a desired overall effect. Copyright c Lee J. Colan

Table of CONTENTS Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Aspects of Attitude   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Orchestrating your Thoughts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Orchestrating your Words  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Orchestrating your Actions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 A Final Note  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Copyright c Lee J. Colan

8 “Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor E. Frankl Psychologist and Holocaust Survivor Copyright c Lee J. Colan

9 How do you measure success? Is it by financial security, career growth, community involvement, quality of relationships, spiritual centeredness or the legacy you leave? Whichever measure you choose, your attitude is the single most important factor in achieving success. The topic of attitude can be conceptual and confusing. In fact, as we go through life we often hear phrases like: “keep your chin up,” “look on the bright side” or “you need a winning attitude.” Unfortunately, we seldom know how to convert these soft sayings into hard results. This book translates the incomprehensible into the actionable. It is intended to provide you with inspiration and application, so you can orchestrate your attitude … and your success. The great news is that even in the worst situations – a victim of a natural disaster, prisoner of war, target of abuse or when hit by a string of unfortunate circumstances – your attitude is something you can always control! INTRODUCTION Copyright c Lee J. Colan

When we control our attitude, we influence how our body responds and performs. Where our thoughts and attitudes go, our bodies follow. For example, blushing is a physical reaction to a mere thought. If we have this kind of reaction to a thought, is it such a leap of faith to believe that we can orchestrate our attitudes to affect our bodies in beneficial ways? In fact, a positive attitude can buffer us against some adverse health effects and depression. Researchers who studied 839 patients over a 30-year period found a link between optimism and lower risk of early death. Specifically, optimism early in life predicts good health later in life. Additionally, a landmark study shed light on the ultimate benefit of a positive attitude. In this particular study, participants who were more positive lived an average of 10 years longer than the other participants. Considering that smoking has been shown to reduce life expectancy by 5.5 years for men and 7 years for women, your attitude might be a health risk factor worth paying real attention to. The choice of attitude is yours. So read on and choose to get the best from yourself and others! Tomorrow you will become what you choose today. 10 Copyright c Lee J. Colan