Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re absolutely right. Henry Ford

Attitude is the key success factor and the foundation to your success.

What is attitude? Attitude is your way of thinking or behaving.

Your attitude towards people influences your behavior towards them. Your attitude affects your level of satisfaction with your life and with your job. Your attitude affects everyone who comes into contact with you.

Your attitude is reflected in your tone of voice, posture and facial expressions. Your attitude can affect your health. It is your attitude that will make the biggest difference in your life—particularly when it comes to what you want to be, to do or to have.

Your past and present are a result of your past attitude. However, your present attitude will determine your future. Right now, you are the author of your future.

Attitude is the “advance man” of our true selves. Its roots are inward, based on past experiences, but its fruit is outward. It is our best friend or our worst enemy. It is more honest and more consistent than our words. It is a thing that either draws people to us or repels them. It is never content until it is expressed.

Attitude is the librarian of our past, the speaker of our present, and the prophet of our future. Yet, your attitude is within whose control?

The greatest thing about attitude is that it is not fixed and it is 100 percent within your control. Your attitude is up to you, as is your future!

Your beliefs, based on past experiences and what you have let in from the outside world, determine your attitude. Your attitude will determine how you feel. How you feel determines the actions you take and the ultimate results that you get in life.

The first thing to do is to review your beliefs. You are now an adult and should be able to distinguish between fact and fiction—what do you really believe about you? What is real and what is not? Only you can change your beliefs.

How you see yourself, your self-worth, your self-esteem and your self-confidence is all part of your attitude. How you are perceived by others can influence your attitude, as it has in the past. That is external influence. If you accept that influence, whether it is positive or negative, you will let it affect you internally.

However, if you become aware of those external influences and decide to lead from within, you start to take control of your attitude.

Here are a few simple questions to help you improve your attitude:

How do you feel about your attitude based on a scale 1-10: 1 being poor and 10 being excellent?

Why did you rate yourself like that?

What must you do to be a 10?

Remember, your attitude in 100% within your control and you can make your attitude whatever you want.