In a continuation of our life coaching articles series on Jim Rohn, let’s explore the second and third piece that comprises his Life Puzzle. 

Attitude

Jim Rohn defines attitude by stating: "Your attitude is defined by how you FEEL about the past, the present and the future.  This is the emotional side of the puzzle.  How we FEEL about our experiences in life can either stop us in our tracks or inspire us to action."

We all have a choice that we can make: we can let the past overwhelm us, or we can let the past educate us.  And unless we can learn from the past, the chances are that our future will be much of the same.

But there’s something special about this moment: you can decide right here, right now where you want to be in twelve months.  That’s the incredible power of attitude.

Rohn makes two important notes while talking about attitude:

•  The power of associations.  Who am I around?  How are they influencing me? Is that okay
•  The notion of building a high self-worth in order to create a better future.

He brings in this fantastic quote to sum up the above points:

"If there is one are in the knowledge department where we cannot afford to be lacking, it is the knowledge and awareness of our uniqueness.  We do not feel better about ourselves for the simple reason that we do not really know ourselves.  For if we truly knew ourselves- our strengths, our abilities, our resources, our depth of feeling, our sense of humor, our unique accomplishments – we would never again doubt our ability to create a better future."

I’d like to take a moment to tie this section into a topic that’s been a constant presence in the media today: bullying.  When you don’t feel valued, or when you have a low sense of self-worth, the future becomes very bleak.  When some children are bullied, they think their futures are so bleak that they take their own lives.  This is UNACCEPTABLE in the society we live in.  It’s not just the school system that’s failing these kids; “we” as a society are failing these kids.

In the words of Rohn, “We become a powerful force when each of us understands how powerful all of us are and when all of us understand how valuable each of us is.”

Therefore it is our responsibility as a society to teach kids the importance of understanding how valuable each person really is, no matter what the color of their skin or sexual orientation.  But if we keep sending messages that it is NOT okay to be different and unique, then we can only find fault within ourselves.

Teaching shouldn’t be just about algebra and science; we need to help children learn to understand themselves, discover their unique talents and accept the uniqueness of all.  Personal development SHOULD become part of the school curriculum. 

Activity

Rohn starts off this section with another powerful quote: “But a growing awareness and a positive attitude are not enough in and of themselves.  What we know and how we feel merely determine our potential for achievement.  Whether we actually achieve our goals is ultimately determined by our activity.”

In other words, even the best intentions are useless without action.  To live a successful life, you must take steps towards you ultimate goals, no matter how small those steps may be.  After all, taking action – even a tiny step – is still activity.