Mood Changers: How Attitude Shapes Your Day

Have you ever walked into a room and felt an immediate shift in energy, like a dark cloud has settled over everything? That's exactly what happened to me, during a stop at a Pilot truck stop in North Carolina. Through a vivid recount of that morning's events, we explore how one person's sour attitude can affect everyone around them. This isn't just about a bad experience at a Wendy’s counter—it's a lesson on the power of attitude and awareness. We'll reflect on how our own attitudes might be influencing our environments and pose the crucial question: Have you ever been that person who changes the mood of an entire room?

In this electrifying episode of Ways to Win Wednesday on One Degree to Victory, we unlock the final piece of our life formula—attitude and awareness. Building on our previous discussions about behavior and belief, this segment is a transformative journey that promises to elevate not just your day, but potentially your entire life. As August marks National Wellness Month, I'm thrilled to launch our 31-Day Wellness Challenge, and our “Where’s My Stuff?” webinar is your gateway to overcoming adversity through strength and transformation. Stick with me to discover how these tools can become the bedrock of your personal growth.

31-Day Wellness Challenge

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:11

one of my go-to fast food joints when I'm on the road is Wendy's, and it's because they're usually and most conveniently located inside of the pilot truck stops a lot of them. I remember this one time I was way up in North Carolina and I was laid over overnight and waiting for my load. So by this time it's early morning, still dark, and it's the time when drivers are prepping to roll out. So we're fueling, showering, doing pre-trips and grabbing breakfast, and since I wasn't in a rush, I was just waiting for my trailer to get loaded. I left the load site and I bobtailed over to the pilot. I parked on the outskirts of the fuel island between the scales and headed inside.

Speaker 1: 0:57

Now, this particular pilot was a hive of activity because of all the industrialism and warehousing around. Drivers with backpacks strapped on were anxiously peering at the shower monitor, you know waiting for their number to be called and directed to the correct shower. Bleary-eyed men were standing in checkout lines clutching 32-ounce cups of what Pilot calls and I tend to agree is the best coffee on the interstate. The scene was bustling and familiar, and then I turned the corner to the Wendy's and everything changed. The atmosphere shifted dramatically. The exasperation and frustration was tangible. You could see it etched on the fatigued faces of the men that morning. Some were nervously clutching their receipts, while others had their fists shoved deep into their pockets, eyes fixated on the skeletal staff trying to get a read, trying to see what was going on. They were also trying to stay patient and trying to keep their cool. I took my place at the back of the line and surveyed the land and you know, hands on my hips, trying to pinpoint the source of their collective frustration. The source of their collective frustration. And there she was, the lone cashier, sour-faced and disinterested, displaying the personality of a sidewalk snail. Her attitude was so vile, so palpably nasty, that it tainted the entire atmosphere. The entire atmosphere. Have you, beautiful soul, constant listener, ever encountered someone whose attitude is so toxic that it affects the entire room? Or perhaps a more introspective question have you ever been that someone?

Speaker 1: 3:05

It's July 24th 2024, and you're tuned into Ways to Win Wednesday on One Degree to Victory. You know who it is. I am your hostess with the mostest, nelida Hollis. It's time to lock in, load up and lean in. That means reduce your distractions, gather your mental and emotional energy and direct that energy to today's topic attitude and awareness. It is the final um Left side of the equation in the, in the geometry of life formula a squared plus b squared or, yeah, a squared plus b squared equals c squared. We kind of worked our way backwards, so we're doing attitude and awareness. At first we did behavior and belief, so this one is attitude and awareness. Attitude and awareness. But before we dive deep, I've got some exciting announcements and incredible opportunities and a sneak peek into what's coming up next. I need you, dear soul, to stick around, because the next few minutes might transform your day and even your life. It's time to see what's in view at One Degree to Victory.

Speaker 1: 4:18

August, just a few days away, is National Awareness Month or National Wellness Month, excuse me and I invite you to join me in the 31 Days to Wellness Challenge. Every day, you will commit to a wellness activity and take control of your health. I've made it super easy. You just follow the challenge calendar or you can do the activities in any order you choose. Click the link in the episode description to get your challenge calendar today and start transforming your life.

Speaker 1: 4:45

Trauma and adversity can deeply affect our mental health and I know this firsthand. Prolonged exposure to toxic relationships, all of this. Housing, food and financial insecurities can and will numb you to the possibility of hope, but there is a way forward. Join the free, pre-recorded Where's my Stuff? Webinar, where stuff stands for strength, transformation, understanding, faith and freedom. I say join, but you can really just download it. And these are the five pillars of growth beyond adversity and trauma. So go ahead and head over to the website and grab that today. And finally, don't miss next Sunday, selfie Sunday featuring Donna McGough. She is a life transition coach who helps women move from feeling powerless to being powerful. Her insights are invaluable and you won't want to miss this empowering conversation. Well, that's what's in view at One Degree to Victory this week.

Speaker 1: 5:50

Now let's return to the importance of transforming your attitude and awareness. Your attitude and awareness Attitude isn't a fleeting feeling. It is the lens through which you live your life day in and day out. I realized a long time ago that my attitude shapes my experiences. In that Wendy's that morning, I am telling you, beautiful souls, your attitude is not dependent on what you're wearing or how well your hair is slayed. Your attitude is dependent on your mind's perspective and your heart's desire. Let me say it again Attitude is dependent on your mind's perspective and your heart's desire.

Speaker 1: 6:48

So that young lady that was at the Wendy's that morning, she dreaded, it was clear she dreaded being at her job that morning. In her mind, she probably wished she could be anywhere but there. And as a matter of fact, I think she did, because before I left the line she just walked off. The next man came up, she just turned around and walked off without a word. But what if so? It was clear that she was not feeling work that morning. It was clear that she was not feeling work that morning. But here's a scenario, alternate scenario. What if her mindset shifted to something more empowering, something more purposeful? What if she thought like this I don't like this chapter of my life, I don't like being here in this job, I don't like being here this early morning, this early in the morning. But but I'm going to be here, I'm going to show up, I'm going to learn as much as I can so I can get a better job. Paying more with better hours. You see the difference Paying more with better hours. You see the difference.

Speaker 1: 7:59

When you repeatedly approach a situation with a negative attitude, you trap yourself in a vicious cycle Same stagnant emotions, same unrefined skills, same defeated outlook. But when you take an oppositional mindset to the negativity, to how you feel, the situation becomes a fertile ground for personal growth and development. You break free, you begin to break free from your oppressive cycles, the trap. Understand, beautiful souls, that dwelling on past pains, dwelling on hurt feelings, only hinders your progress and it anchors that progress to a place of misery. And we all know misery loves company, but you cannot become comfortable in the company of misery Let me say that again of misery. Let me say that again you cannot become comfortable in the company of misery, do you understand? Now I'm going to share with you the three ways to break these oppressive cycles, and I'm sure there are other ways, but these are the three ways that I began to break out of the cycle.

Speaker 1: 9:23

I would consciously the first thing I did was consciously interrupt any negative thoughts. When I'm being judgmental, when I'm being emotional, I would interrupt that thought, right, I would literally just say nope, I'm not thinking like that, and I would begin an activity that was different than what I was doing when the negative thought was entered my mind. So, for example, if I'm cleaning the kitchen and then you know I'm like God, I hate being here and that's a legitimate feeling. I do, I don't. I don't like being in this position, I hate it, but say, nope, I'm not thinking like that, I'm so glad that I'm not sleeping in my car, right. And then I'd go and grab the trash and take it out and I swear it did not matter how much trash was in there and if it was empty, I would go into the living room and sit down and watch like a 30 minute episode or turn on some music and blast it up so that I can hear. If I was driving and a negative thought entered my mind like, oh God. If I was driving and a negative thought entered my mind like, oh God, why is this happening to me? Nope, I'm not thinking like that and I'll change the genre of music that I'm listening to. And if I'm not listening to any music, then I'll turn on some happy, positive music. Right, if you're driving, you could turn on One Degree to Victory podcast.

Speaker 1: 10:53

The second way I broke the cycle. I walk away from negative environments and people, literally, and I still do this today, and for the most part, I am a pretty focused individual when I've set my mind on a goal. That being said, I'm very picky about my surroundings, I'm very picky about my relationships and I'm very picky about my micro communities, right? So those organizations and things that I joined for networking. One thing I began to ask myself as I was coming out of this cycle, very intentionally, was number one how is being in this space, how is being with this person in a relationship, or how is being a part of this community, going to support my overall wellness and goals? And so I was not just haphazardly jumping into these relationships with organizations, people and community. I was strategically positioning myself and began to manage my energies and time. Right, I began to make strategic decisions about the investment of my time and energy. If that investment was not for me, I simply walked away.

Speaker 1: 12:16

It was clear the reason I was walking away and it wasn't nasty.

Speaker 1: 12:20

She said you know what?

Speaker 1: 12:21

This is not for me. If they needed a reason, I did. I gave a reason. And so the third way excuse me, the third way, my goodness, excuse me the third way that I began to break the oppressive cycle is I live, and I still do this. I live with an awareness that every moment matters. Every moment matters, beautiful soul. Whether you're resting, moment matters, beautiful soul, whether you're resting, rejuvenating, whether you're learning or whether you're grinding right. You're working, you're making things happen. Every moment matters, and so don't waste your empty moments right on TikTok. Don't waste your empty moments doom scrolling.

Speaker 1: 13:10

Social media is a tool. Use it for that reason. Use it to expand your knowledge, use it to network, use it to engage, but do not use it to your detriment. You want to be able to maximize your opportunities. And a word of caution when you're doing this as you begin, understand that you're not going to hit your target of maximum productivity right every single day, and that's perfectly okay.

Speaker 1: 13:45

I had to learn that what truly mattered is not the occasional slip up right, it's. It's not the thought. Mattered is not the occasional slip up right, it's not the thought. It's not the occasional procrastination. It might be more than occasional, but it's not the moments of procrastination. What matters is that you consistently return to your base right To remember that you're in this for the long haul, to witness a change in yourself and your circumstances. Hey, that's all that I have for today. If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, rate and leave a review, and don't forget to share your one degree victories with us on social media using the hashtag one degree to victory. Until next time, keep making those small shifts and keep moving toward your victory. Listen, don't forget to go to our facebook, instagram and tiktok pages, like, follow, share and remember beautiful souls to love yourself, love, love, love yourself a little more than you did yesterday. I love y'all. I gotta go.