YUVA For All

Session 1.1
TITLE : Attitude Is Everything!

INTRODUCTION TO THE SESSION

Our life is what our thoughts make it”. Perhaps more than anything else it is our
attitude which determines the quality of our lives a positive attitude leads to
happiness and success and can change a person’s whole life.
The same situation can be viewed by two persons differently this session helps the
students to appreciate the importance of positive attitude.

1. Objectives : By the end of the session, the students will be able to

• Appreciate the importance of a

positive attitude.
• Learn how to develop and
maintain a positive attitude.
2. Time : 35 Minutes

3. Life Skills Being Used : Self-Awareness, Critical

Thinking, Creative Thinking,
Problem Solving, Decision
Making, Effective
Communication.

4. Advance Preparations : Annexure 1 (Story)

5. Linkages : Please see contents

6. Methodology : Activity, Group discussion, Story telling, Exercise,

7. Process :

Step 1:
Please read the fact sheet carefully and go through this session well in advance
before carrying it out with the students.

Step 2:
Greet the class. Start with the activity given below. Write on the blackboard in capital
letters

‘GODISNOWHERE’
Ask the students to read the letters and explain what is written there
Expected Answers:

GOD IS NOW HERE

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 GOD IS NO WHERE

Note for the teachers:

Applaud the students. Explain to the students that both sentences are made from the same
set of alphabets and both are right. State that we can choose to arrange letters so that the
positive statement “GOD IS NOW HERE” comes out. More than on chance, it is the
attitude of a person that may determine how he looks at it or chooses to look at it. State
that we will reflect on “positive attitude” and its benefits in today’s session.

Step 3:
State that we all will read a true story whose cheerful
nature and positive attitude is reflected in the story.
Invite a student to read out the story in Annexure 1.
Reiterate the salient points of the story.

Step 4:
Thank the student for reading out the story of Dr.
Victor Frankl. Now ask the students the following
questions:
1. How was the story? Did you like it? Why?
2. What did the story tell you?
Expected responses:
ƒ The story was very interesting, I liked it very
much as I felt it was a very inspiring and very
educative story.
ƒ The story tells us that we can always – even in
very bad circumstances -maintain a positive
attitude, even in the face of great adversity our attitude is of our choice.

Note For teacher

State that Dr. Frankl’s story not only is real but his writings and scientific conclusions
have helped many people. His writings and statement that “….everything can be taken
from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in
any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way",has helped and given hope to
innumerable people.

Step 5:
Now ask them, “What do you think a ‘Positive Attitude’ is?”“Are there any
advantages of having a positive attitude?”
Expected Responses: Being hopeful, expecting success, remaining enthusiastic, not
getting stressed, not giving up, trying to find something good in everything, 2) Helps
achieving goals and attaining success easily,

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 Note for Teachers:
Applaud the students. You have to make them reflect on what exactly positive attitude is –
and how helpful it is to maintain a positive attitude. State that attitude is a mindset –the
‘way’ we think and look at things. An attitude is positive when it shows clearly the
following: Optimism, Motivation to accomplish your goals, Believing in yourself and in
your abilities, Being inspired, Constructive thinking, Creative thinking, Expecting success,
Not giving up, Choosing happiness, Displaying self-esteem and confidence, Seeing
opportunities.

State that having a positive attitude has many advantages: brings happiness and more
energy all around, higher motivation for self and others, fewer difficulties are encountered,
accepting failures with grace, learning from challenges and shortcomings, more respect for
the person. (Refer Fact Sheet)
Step 6:
Now ask them, “How can we choose to have a positive
attitude?”
Expected responses:
¾ By thinking positively.
¾ Looking at the brighter side of things rather than only
seeing the negative
¾ Remembering that every cloud has a silver lining.
¾ Having faith in yourself.
¾ Remembering that humans are capable of surmounting
all problems that they might face.
¾ Believing in ourselves and our capabilities.
¾ Remaining motivated even in presence of problems.

Note for Teachers:

Attitude is the way you look at things. Half a glass of water may appear half empty to
one and half full to another. Attitude is contagious. A positive attitude gives energy to
you and to those around you. On the other hand, a negative attitude drains your energy
and the energy of those with whom you come in contact. A person with a positive attitude
gets on with the job at hand.He doesn't brood over what's gone before or might happen
in the future. If there is a problem, she/he quickly thinks of ways to solve it.He doesn't
pass the buck or blame on other people or circumstances for it. If the problem cannot be
solved with a single hand, she seeks help from someone.He doesn't feel that it's below her
dignity to seek assistance. A positive attitude translates into a sunny bright personality.
When we are positive, we find that our interactions with the world and ourselves become
brighter, more productive and perpetuate the ‘feel good’ factor. This in turn makes us
healthier and more peaceful.
All of us, at one time or another, express the three different types of attitudes: positive,
negative and neutral. Those with a neutral attitude are sometimes the most challenging
to deal with, and can be called as “spectators in the game of life.” We often try to avoid
contact with those carrying a negative attitude, “the critics of the game of life.” And we
are drawn to those with a positive attitude, “the players of the game of life.”

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 Discuss with the students that a positive attitude just does not happen! It is something
they have to work on all the time. There are many ways to do so; such as
• Choose to be happy and joyful.
• Be spiritual. Have faith in yourself and God.
• Stay optimistic; look at the brighter side of situations.
• Smile more often.
• Spend more time with people who are happy.
• Read inspiring books / stories. Seek advice from wise/ contended people.
• Learn to meditate and concentrate
• Communicate and do not hesitate to seek help if required.

Explain that we are constantly talking to ourselves and our attitudes are perhaps
maintained by the inner / private conversations that we constantly have with
ourselves, both consciously and subconsciously. So we need to
see that the inner conversations that we have with ourselves are
positive and enabling.

Step 7:
Encourage the students to think of incidents and people who do not
give up in spite of adversities. Use examples that the students are
likely to know like some well known films! Give them the
example of the film ‘LAGAAN’ where the main character’s
attitude changed the destiny of the village, and about, the film
‘IQBAL’ where the main character’s focus and determination
helped him achieve his goals despite obstacles.
Remind them that all of our feelings, beliefs and knowledge are
based on our internal thoughts, both conscious and subconscious. We are in control,
whether we know it or not. We can CHOOSE to be positive or negative,
enthusiastic or dull, active or passive. So let us CHOOSE to be enthusiastic, active
and- very positive!

Step 8: Exercise
State that we will carry out an exercise. Ask them: “what according to you are the
important things in life?”

Expected responses:

¾ Money, Luck
¾ Family, Friends
¾ Hard work, Joy
¾ Education, Career
¾ Respect, Love

Step 9:
Now ask them to replace each alphabet in the
quality they have chosen (eg Money, Luck) with a number so that
A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14,
O=15, P=16, Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26.
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 M O N E Y
So, MONEY = 13 + 15 + 14 + 5 + 25 = 72
L U C K
LUCK = 12 + 21 + 3 + 11 = 47
H A R D W O R K
HARD WORK = 8 + 1 + 18 + 4 + 22 + 15 + 18 + 11 = 97

You can add up the others accordingly.

Then ask them to see what ATTITUDE adds up to.

A T T I T U D E
1 + 20 + 20 + 9 + 20 + 21 + 4 + 5 = 100

In all likelihood, no other word will add up to 100.

So now reiterate the importance of having a positive attitude in life. If one has
the right attitude life can be lived 100%!!!

Step 10:
State that it is largely in our hands to
develop a positive attitude. Utilize the
“Half full- half empty” glass analogy (see
sketch). Of course it helps that we have
positive people around us but the best is to
prompt ourselves to develop a positive
attitude. Remind them that in a prison
“Two men saw out of the window bars,
One saw the bars, the other saw the
stars”. This very well brings out the value
of being positive even in the worse of
conditions. Let us all help each other –and
ourselves – to remain positive.
State that we can adopt the following -
stopping our negative thoughts, giving positive messages to self all the time, patting our
own backs for the small successes we have, smiling all the time, having the belief that
tomorrow will be better, and practicing being positive to keep our attitude positive!

Key Messages :

Highlight and recap the following to the class:

• Attitude is contagious. A positive attitude gives energy to you and to those

around you.

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 • When we are positive, we find that our interactions with the world and ourselves
become brighter, more productive and perpetuate the ‘feel good’ factor. This in
turn makes us healthier and more peaceful.

• All of us, at one time or another, express the three different types of attitudes:
positive, negative and neutral. Those with a neutral attitude are sometimes the
most challenging to deal with, and can be called as “spectators in the game of
life.” We often try to avoid contact with those carrying a negative attitude, “the
critics of the game of life.” And we are drawn to those with a positive attitude,
“the players of the game of life.”

Ideas for Learning More:

1. Tell the students to collect newspaper cuttings dealing with examples of people
showing positive attitude.
2. Ask the students what will be their attitude if they are faced with an adverse
situation.

ANNEXURE 1
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
The Story of Victor Frankl
Viktor Emil Frankl, M.D., Ph.D., (March 26, 1905 - September
2, 1997) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as
a Holocaust survivor. Frankl was born in Vienna into a Jewish
family of civil servants (Beamtenfamilie). His book Man's
Search for Meaning (first published in 1946) chronicles his
experiences as a concentration camp inmate and describes his
psychotherapeutic method of finding meaning in all forms of
existence, even the most sordid ones, and thus a reason to
continue living.

In the Autumn of 1942, the 25th of September, he, his wife, and
his parents were deported to the ghetto of Theresienstadt
While in the concentration camp he was subjected to many atrocities and saw many more
happening to other inmates of the concentration camp. “In front of me a man stumbled
and those following him fell on top of him. The guard rushed over and used his whip on
them all. Thus my thoughts were interrupted for a few minutes. But soon my soul found its
way back from the prisoners existence to another world, and I resumed talk with my
loved one…..”.

It was due to his and others' suffering in these camps that he came to his hallmark
conclusion that even in the most absurd, painful and dehumanized situation, life has
potential meaning and that therefore even suffering is meaningful. "We who lived in
concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting
others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but
they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the
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 last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances,
to choose one's own way."

No sadistic Nazi SS guard was able to take that (freedom to choose) away from him or
control the inner-life of Frankl's soul. Frankl clearly saw that it was those who had
nothing to live for who died quickest in the concentration camp. Even in the degradation
and abject misery of a concentration camp, Frankl was able to exercise the most
important freedom of all - the freedom to determine one's own attitude and spiritual
well-being.

On April 27, 1945, Frankl was liberated by the Americans. Among his immediate
relatives, the only survivor was his sister, who had escaped by emigrating to Australia.

FACT SHEET

POSITIVE ATTITUDE
What is attitude? "Attitude is a mind set. It is the way one looks at things mentally.", "A
positive attitude is the outward manifestation of a mind that dwells primarily on positive
matters."

Negative attitude-- you cannot achieve success.

Positive attitude-- you can achieve success.

Believe it or not, attitude is contagious. A positive

attitude gives energy to you and to those around you.
On the other hand, a negative attitude drains your
energy and the energy of those with whom you come in
contact.

When we are positive, we find that our interactions with the world and ourselves become
brighter, more productive and perpetuate the ‘feel good’ factor. This in turn makes us
healthier and more peaceful.

All of us, at one time or another, express the three different types of attitudes: positive,
negative and neutral. Those with a neutral attitude are sometimes the most challenging
to deal with, and can be called as “spectators in the game of life.” We often try to avoid
contact with those carrying a negative attitude, “the critics of the game of life.” And we
are drawn to those with a positive attitude, “the players of the game of life.”

A positive attitude doesn’t just happen. It’s something you have to work at, all the time.

The essence of yoga is to be positive in any situation that we find ourselves in.

According to this concept of yoga, the path to a positive attitude can be found through a
3-step approach-

• Awareness
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 • Acceptance
• Attitude

Awareness - We need to be aware of what we are thinking so that we can train one mind
and become aware of one thoughts, thinking patterns and tendencies.

Acceptance - Of what “we are”, we need to develop a spirit of love, brotherhood and
compassion towards each other. The acceptance is the stepping stone to the thinking.

Attitude – One we have accepted what lies within one thoughts, we can actually start
working upon how we “want” to look at a particular person, situation or thing, Yoga
technique assist us in changing one attitude. Positive thinking affects the body vibrations
in a positive manner. This is turn, affects the vibrations around us, which in turn, affect
the situations around us. This helps in relieving one suffering and leading a harmonious
life.

You should keep in mind that it is the simple things in life that provide us with the most
pleasure and stimulation come to us for free. If you feel like you are dealing with an
overwhelming amount of stress, do things that you really enjoy.
Relax!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go to an art gallery, Play any sports you like hockey, cricket,
badminton, go for a run or swimming, read a book, re-connect with an old friend, listen to
your favorite song, or go to a movie. Only by treating yourselves to a fair amount of free
time you can hope to maintain a positive attitude.
Helping others also helps us maintain a positive attitude towards life. This can be as
simple as carrying groceries for an elderly person, taking care of a kid, joining
community based programs. Helping others enriches our lives, and thus improves our
general attitude.
Ultimately, it is all about paying close attention both to yourself and the people around
you. By treating yourself well, you can in turn use the energy that you save as “points”
towards the pursuing of your ultimate goals in life.
Positive attitude manifests in the following ways:
• Positive thinking.
• Constructive thinking.
• Creative thinking.
• Expecting success.
• Optimism.
• Motivation to accomplish your goals.
• Being inspired.
• Choosing happiness.
• Not giving up.
• Looking at failure and problems as blessings in disguise.
• Believing in yourself and in your abilities.
• Displaying self-esteem and confidence.
• Looking for solutions.
• Seeing opportunities.

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 A positive attitude leads to happiness and success and can change your whole life. If
you look at the bright side of life, your whole life becomes filled with light. This light
affects not only you and the way you look at the world, but also your whole environment
and the people around you. If it is strong enough, it becomes contagious.

The benefits of a positive attitude:

• Helps achieving goals and attaining success.
• Success achieved faster and more easily.
• More happiness.
• More energy.
• Greater inner power and strength.
• The ability to inspire and motivate yourself and others.
• Fewer difficulties encountered along the way.
• The ability to surmount any difficulty.
• Life smiles at you.
• People respect you.

If you have been exhibiting a negative attitude and expecting failure and difficulties, it is
now the time to change the way you think. It is time to get rid of negative thoughts and
behavior and lead a happy and successful life. Why not start today? If you have tried and
failed, it only means that you have not tried enough.

Of course it's just not possible even for the greatest optimist, to smile all the time and feel
good throughout the day. Everyone has a spell of the blues now and then, when
everything seems bleak and without cheer. But once you develop a positive attitude, and
realize that life is a roller coaster ride, a series of ups and downs, dark clouds and silver
linings, in no time you will bounce back, ready to welcome the world again with open
arms and a huge grin! So, look towards the sun shine and the shadows will fall back.
Positive attitude is the ability to enjoy life even when troubles arise; be able to take each
day as it comes, full of sorrow, joy, disappointment and happy surprises. When you can't
have big victories, accept small ones. This too helps us maintain our positive attitude.

Developing a positive attitude that will lead you to happiness and success:
• Choose to be happy.
• Look at the bright side of life.
• Stay optimistic.
• Find reasons to smile more often.
• Have faith in yourself and in the Power of the Universe.
• Associate yourself with happy people.
• Read inspiring stories.
• Read inspiring quotes.
• Repeat affirmations that inspire and motivate you.
• Visualize only what you want to happen.
• Learn to master your thoughts.
• Learn concentration and meditation.

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 Even following even only one of the above suggestions will bring more light
into your life!
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

“Attitude -- not aptitude -- determines your altitude.”

- Anonymous
“A positive attitude is contagious, but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.”
- Anonymous
“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines
how well you do it.”
- Lou Holtz
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Remember that just as troubles are part of life so are good times. We must accept both
and realize that bad times do not last, they will eventually end, and if we are positive,
they will end quickly. If you are depressed it is useful to remind yourself that:

“THIS TOO SHALL PASS.”

All of our feelings,
AN INSPIRING POEM beliefs and knowledge
are based on our
The longer I live, the more I realize internal thoughts,
the impact of attitude on life. both conscious and
It is more important than the past, subconscious. We are
than education, than money, in control, whether we
than circumstances, know it or not.
than failures, than successes, We can be positive or
than what other people say or do. negative, enthusiastic
It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. or dull, active or
It will make or break a company, a church, a home. passive.
The remarkable thing is, you have a choice every day
The biggest difference
regarding the attitude you will embrace for that day.
between people is
We cannot change our past. their attitudes. For
We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain some, learning is
way. enjoyable and
We cannot change the inevitable. exciting. For others,
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we learning is a
have, drudgery. For many,
and that is our attitude. learning is just
I am convinced life is 10 percent what happens to me okay, something
and 90 percent how I react to it. required on the
And so it is for you. road to a job.
You are in charge of your attitude. - Author unknown
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 Our present attitudes are habits, built from the feedback of parents, friends, society
and self, that form our self-image and our world-image.

These attitudes are perhaps

maintained by the inner
conversations we constantly
have with ourselves, both
consciously and
subconsciously.

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