I met someone on Tuesday evening that gave me the best advice I’d gotten in a long time. Don’t let anyone else choose your attitude – it’s the one thing you have total control over.

It’s true. We have the ability to take our situation and either spin it in a positive way, or simply succumb to negativity.

Much of the energy that affects our attitudes is something we come in contact with at work. If someone is having a bad day, if someone is rude, if someone is snippy, it affects us – but it doesn’t have to.

From the moment we wake up in the morning, we begin choosing who we will be for the day. It’s about being aware and realizing you can shift your attitude.

There’s a popular training program for employees called the FISH! Philosophy and one of the main concepts is “choose your attitude.” The thought behind that particular point in the program is to help people respond intentionally to life, not just react to situations. Moment-to-moment awareness is key.

Some questions to ask ourselves in order to keep our day on track, according to the program, are: “What is my attitude right now?” “Is my attitude helping the people who depend on me?” “Is it helping me to be the most effective?”

If the answer to those questions is negative, we become aware and can shift our perspective.

Understanding that we, alone, are responsible for our attitudes and when one isn’t working, we can change that is a wonderful thing. We need to respond to people in ways that strengthens relationships, instead of damages them. We can choose the impact we want to have in a situation before we enter it.

I’ve decided to start each day with a positive, inspirational message. They won’t always be historical and they don’t always have to be religious – just inspiring.

Here’s my thought for the day, as we move forward into the weekend. I hope it puts you in a good, positive mood and is uplifting.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most… We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others,” Marianne Williamson, author and lecturer.