I've been working with students for more than 30 years. One of the things I realized through my experience is that poor attitude is directly correlated with a lack of gratitude. Usually, students (as well as adults) have a poor attitude because they have a crooked perspective or a tinted "lens." Such people do not realize how good their life is because they always complain about what they don't have, how awful things are, why they must get/have what they are "entitled" to, etc.
They often compare themselves with those who have more, spend more, and show off more! If they would just stop comparing with others, or compare their lives with the less fortunate, then they would realize how blessed they are. Even low-income families in the US are doing way better than their counterparts in places like sub-Saharan Africa or parts of the Middle East or North Korea. How fortunate is it to live in one of the most developed and affluent countries in the world! How blessed are we to have food on the table, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads?
I'm sure some readers will say, "Come on! That's not fair! We're living in the 21st Century, and we need technology, we need fancy cars, we need a spacious home," etc. Well, that all depends on your standard of living, how you define success, and the reference point.
The key is, "Do you define things the way God defines them?" Are you grateful for the breath that is in you? Are you thankful for your parents, children, family, and friends? Do you appreciate what you already possess? Have you developed a spirit of gratitude regardless of your circumstances?
Be thankful for little things in life, and count your blessings by thinking and reflecting on small things. Over time, you'll develop an attitude of gratitude. Remember the old hymn that says, "Count your blessings.... name them one by one... see what God has done... and it will surprise you what the Lord has done" (Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897). Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by counting your blessings, today. Your complaints will gradually disappear from your mind and mouth.
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