It’s Yours for the Choosing
By: David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer

How was your Thanksgiving? Did it meet your expectations? How about your holiday shopping, is it going well? Those Christmas cards, have you found the one that will work? Each year my wife and I try to compile a family photo that can be used as our Christmas card. I used to think it was tough to get our four kids to cooperate for the annual ordeal. Over the last several years, we’ve added three in-law kids and eight grandchildren to the mix. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that one family lives in Ohio? The holidays are often fraught with tension, stress, and disappointment, and we didn’t even get into the “family” members that may or may not have graced your table this past week. Now I know what you are thinking. “What happened to It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year guy?” Don’t worry, I’m still here. But to pretend that these issues don’t exist is simply foolish. We need to prepare for them.

My Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful. It was also a mixed bag of experiences that left me wondering Monday morning about the week ahead. We had a great Thanksgiving that started with a special service at our church and ended with most of my family around our table for a great time of fellowship and amazing deep-fried turkey. A little shopping on Friday, taking a dock out of Otisco Lake (yes, it was cold, bitter cold), and then brunch at one of my kid’s homes on Saturday. Sounds perfect, and it was. Then came early Saturday evening and the start of what would be three migraines in 36 hours. What follows my migraines is usually at least one day of a dull headache, a flush feeling in my face, and a general yucky feeling. To add to my stress, this is a tough week, and Monday’s schedule had me working with a school board until 9:00 pm. Just thinking about a 13-hour work day after three migraines was pushing me over the edge, but then I saw an Instagram post from Debra Searle where she challenged me to choose my attitude.  Would I surrender to negative emotions or decide to find a positive emotion?

Here’s what I decided:

• I choose to focus on the positive.
• I choose to focus on the value that I will be bringing to people during my busy week.
• I have the privilege of working with a school board.
• I have the privilege of teaching John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.
• I have the privilege of coaching eight people this week.

I made the choice to focus on the positive. How about you?

Join me on The Next Page podcast as I share more of Debra Searle’s tips for daily choosing your attitude.

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