“People enjoy being around those who are cheerful or optimistic and generally excited about life.”

A thought by Zig Ziglar (2003-01-01) from his book, Zig Ziglar's Life Lifters (p. 1). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I really do believe that. I’m not very good at smiling in pictures. I'm really not. But I’m pretty good at smiling at people. I strive to put my best smile forward in meeting people. I strive to do that with the first words I write every morning on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I believe what Zig says is true, “People enjoy being around those who are cheerful or optimistic and generally excited about life.”

Now there are some things that can take a smile off of our face and one of them is self-pity. Here is what Zig says about that, “If you know someone who lives with the attitude of self-pity, you know how hard you work to avoid spending time with him or her.”

He says, “Self-pity is simply a symptom of attitudosis—a condition brought on by your neglect of others and their needs and by your extreme focus on and excessive attention to the most minuscule aches, pains, and inconveniences in your life.”

He goes on, “You need to consider your attitude as seriously as you would consider the largest monetary purchase of your life. Your attitude helps shape your minutes, your day, your week—your entire life. It affects the way you feel, the way you look, even the way you respond to circumstances beyond your control.”

And then, “Attitudosis cannot survive a strong, steady dose of uplifting literature or a regular donation of your time to a good cause. Make eye contact with someone who doesn't expect it and then give her your best smile. When you are willing to improve your attitude and you take action to do so, you'll enjoy life even more.”

So how do you start your day, with a smile or a frown?

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