Junior School

Choosing Your Attitude

When discussing the progress of a student, teachers will often refer to their attitude as this obviously coincides with the level of effort they demonstrate towards a particular task or subject area. Interestingly, research shows that the single most important factor in an individual’s stress level is also their attitude. The attitude we bring to a situation has a huge impact on how we see and react to each of the situations we face. This, in turn, has a direct impact on our stress level. The attitude that we bring is evident in our self-talk, that little voice inside our head!

Our attitude acts like a lens through which we ‘see’ situations. I am sure that you will have heard the classic story where two people who witness the same car accident, report seeing different things. Your attitude acts as a filter and therefore has a huge impact on how we ‘see’ events. Many people believe their attitude is caused directly by outside influences like unpleasant experiences or negative people. They see their attitude as a direct result or consequence of what happens to them. They see it as a simple cause and effect relationship. As a result of this mindset, they ride a rollercoaster of emotions every day! When good things happen, they feel great and when bad things happen, they feel terrible.

However, we need to be careful not to allow our attitude to be totally dependent on the events that happen to us. Educational researcher Steve Francis notes that while external pressures may trigger our feelings, we are the ones who then reflect the impact of those events in our attitude. We can either be subservient to the external events, few of which we often don’t have any control over, or we can take charge of our attitude and our response to the situations we face. 

As such, it is crucial for students to learn the importance of ‘choosing your attitude’, which ultimately equates to monitoring their self-talk, being aware of their attitude and making their own choice about how much impact situations have on them. Once our boys learn to accept that they have some choice in their attitude at a particular moment in time, they can then decide whether to keep it or shape it into an attitude that brings them more satisfaction. 

I am certainly not suggesting that we always have to put on a happy face; sometimes being angry or sad are what’s called for in a particular moment. However, it is most crucial that we are aware of what our attitude is, and realise that not only does it affect us, it also impacts those around us. We have the power to control our attitude, not the other way around.

As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (glenn.stephenson@spc.nsw.edu.au) or phone (8705 9247) and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.

May God bless you,

Glenn Stephenson

Director of Junior School