Attitude and Effort

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be in control of the situation. I have always been the first one to take charge and I want to be the best at something. I have also been the one to let someone else’s way of thinking sway my judgment or even my opinions about myself. But as of recently, and I am finally figuring out a new way of thinking has really changed the way I am living my life.

Looking back I can remember playing baseball in high school. And in my years playing there, I can vividly recall sitting in the small theatre room watching videos and taking notes on “Brian Cain Peak Performance”. Now this isn’t going to be a lesson on how like he used to say, “Dominate the Day”. But this is something that it only took me until now to realize, and honestly to this day truly implement into my life.

We also had something at my high school when I played that was on all of our gear - ACE - which stood for Attitude, Commitment, Effort. However, the more I’ve learned about how we think and how we react to things in this world. There are only two things that we can actually control on a day to day, moment to moment basis. And that is our attitude and effort.

Attitude and effort. Are the only things we can control. We can choose our mindset and how we react to situations. We can choose to be happy or sad, we can choose to stay happy or sad. Don’t get me wrong, having a smile on your face or not, is not the basis of this at all. Rather how we are choosing to feel about a situation. Now I am not a doctor of any kind and I know there are people who struggle with mental health, and I pray that if you are one of those people. I hope you have a great support system around you and are seeking help if needed. But to me, your attitude is a choice and it all starts in your mind.

I came across some scripture this morning doing my devotional and it comes from Romans. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” And I wanted to quickly focus on that first and second statement. Do not be conformed to this world - Paul is telling us that we should not just fall to the status quo of the world around us. We should not be so easily swayed in our thoughts or attitudes just by what everyone, or just someone around us is doing or feeling. And then secondly, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. This literally means doing a complete overhaul of your thoughts and filtering what you are thinking about.

I have struggled so much in my life (being a 3) wanting to be the BEST at everything. I find value in being praised and affirmed. I find value in being valued. So when I don’t receive that back, my attitude and even my effort level I put into things sometimes showed. I wanted to be the best, but I wasn’t being praised in my work. I needed to find a way to filter my thoughts and how I let it motivate me with my effort.

This year at spring training before I went into camp, I told myself this one phrase. “Keep your head down, and keep moving forward.” And for some reason it still sticks with me. Now its not actually meant literally, but it did give me a better idea to not focus so much on what was going on with other people. I had a job to do, I had a time to get better, I had to face my own adversities and trials, I had to do me. It took me literally since my Junior year of high school to realize that I can only focus on me. Stop comparing my life to someone else’s and worry about me. When I did that, my life and the way I think was transformed.

Now, I am not perfect and I still struggle with these things. But it’s a mindset every day to think about. How can I control my attitude? How can I give my best effort? However, when it comes down to it, it’s about me answering to me in the mirror at the end of the day. Did I be the best version of myself today? When I think back to ACE, or “Keep my head down”, I am reminded that today is a day that God is challenging me to think different. That today is a day that I can change the outcome of it just by transforming how I think, which in turn transforms how I act and react.

So what is it that is holding you back? Is it toxic thoughts that aren’t being filtered in your mind? Is it being unmotivated to challenge yourself (daily goals)? Could it be you just not knowing how to start?

Well I will say this. If you don’t know where to start you don’t have to. Just start by trusting that God is going to be in your mind helping you filter out what is stopping you. And then just let every day be a daily first step towards being able to control your own attitude and effort.