Beautiful Question:What makes people more willing to accept change? Are we born with a

certain outlook, or do we form positive or negative attitudes from

life experiences?

Angela RosamiliaPhilosophy 103

Attitude (noun):

A) mental position with regard to a fact or state

B) a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state

 My beautiful question is: What makes people more willing to accept change? Are we born with a certain outlook, or do we form positive

or negative attitudes from life experiences?

As a nursing major, I have cared for a variety of patients, each battling various illnesses or injuries, all with different outlooks regarding their circumstances. This past fall, I had clinical on the Medical-Surgical unit of Rhode Island Hospital. My first patient of the semester had unfortunately been recently diagnosed with diabetes that had long gone unnoticed, and as a result of his severe condition he underwent a partial foot amputation. Upon entering the room, I anticipated a sullen, distraught patient in need of consoling after an event so discouraging and life altering. However, to my surprise, he turned out to be one of the most optimistic, cheerful people I have ever encountered. He enthusiastically spoke of the necessary lifestyle changes he was eager to make in regards to his diabetes, and insisted that this new alteration to his physical appearance was not the worst that could happen and wouldn’t bother him in the long run. He frequently referenced his strong faith that kept him smiling and hopeful the entire day. To this day, this extremely positive attitude the patient possessed has stuck with me, and was the drive which helped me to form my beautiful question.

With an event so life altering as an amputation, one would anticipate feelings of grief, sorrow, and discouragement. After caring for this patient, I often wondered what it was that caused him to hold such an open, positive outlook on life. To answer this question, I interviewed several people who have encountered life altering events to see their views on overall attitude. I looked into several articles regarding attitude, and I also included a video to show a different perspective.

In a survey, I asked these five

questions to several people: 1. When faced with a major life event (moving, entering college, a

break-up/divorce, starting a new job, a death in the family, etc.) how would you describe your general outlook towards change? 

2. Have you ever experienced a major change to your life? How did you react to it?

3. Do you ever turn to forms of support for positivity, such as faith/religion, support from family/friends, meditation, etc.?

4. Do you feel that you are in control of your overall attitude?

5. Do you feel that you have had a generally consistent attitude throughout your life, or have certain influences/experiences contributed to your overall mind-set?

These were their responses…

When faced with a major life event (moving, entering college, a break-up/divorce, starting a new job, a death in

the family, etc.) how would you describe your general outlook towards change?

“I’m always very excited for new change, unless I’m moving away from something I’ve grown too attached to. Whereas moving, entering college, or starting a new job are all positive changes, a break-up or a death in the family are exact opposites. I can’t express a sort of generality in terms of my outlook toward change since the effects of change are so contextual. Whether the change feels negative or positive, if it is inevitable, I try to have a positive outlook. Change is the only thing in life that is constant. We learn and grow from it, so whether it’s positive or negative, I try to find a silver lining.”

“My general outlook towards change is mostly anxiety. I pretty much don't look forward to change unless I view it as something fun but for the most part it makes me extremely anxious. Like the thought of getting a job that isn’t the one I’ve had for years makes me nervous.”

“At first I am anxious and stubborn to change, especially after moving to college but after some time passes I sort of adjust and adapt to the situation that unfolded and change my lifestyle to fit in with the new normal that has been presented to me.”

“Depending on the situation change can sometimes be a good thing and sometimes a bad thing or both. If you're moving somewhere for a better job opportunity for example, that's great for your career, but maybe moving far from your family isn't such a great experience and can make the whole situation hard for you. However, sometimes with big life events even if they don't seem good at the time, they can start a new beginning to your life and end up working out for the best.”

When faced with a major life event (moving, entering college, a break-up/divorce, starting a new job, a death in

the family, etc.) how would you describe your general outlook towards change?

“I think change is necessary to promote personal growth. We may be resistant to change and the change might not be something we like, but I think it is required. I can either be resistant or welcoming to change, it all is subject to the type of change.”

“Change is necessary and whether we ask for it or not, its going to find a way into our lives. We as a people love to cling to routines and predictable outcomes in my opinion but without knowing that it can all go away in an instant is just denial. Cherishing the people you’re with today is the most important thing you can do when facing great change because at the end of the day all you can keep is the memories you've created and the relationships you've built. Without these, change can be construed as a bad thing; which it isn't. “

“I look at change as a positive thing that will make me stronger whether its good or bad. Being faced with change makes me feel uncomfortable and foreign in my own body. I often dwell on the past making it difficult to accept changes in life, therefore my views on change tend to be extremely negative.”

“Roll with it. With every major change in my life, I've made one major effort to stop it, rectify it, or make sure it is the change I want, if it doesn't work. Roll with it.”

Have you ever experienced a major change to your life? How did you react to it?

“I graduated college with a major in Psychology and a minor in English. For a while, I was looking into becoming a copywriter, but after doing at least a year of research into how to start that type of career, I realized I wasn’t cut out for it. Recently, I got a job at a construction estimating firm. The boss wants to train me to become a construction estimator. Construction estimators make a lot of money, and money is the only thing that concerns me when it comes to my career choice. A month ago, I didn’t even know this service existed. Now I’m doing everything I can to learn about the service and pushing my boss to train me so I can fully involve myself in this career path. I’ve literally changed my whole career plan, and I’m happy with it. If it doesn’t work out, at least I gained some sort of experience. If it does work out, I have a path to becoming a very rich man. I know my potential, so I’m going with it. This is a major change in my life. I’m not math savvy, nor am I a handy man, but since this opportunity has been thrown my way, I’m taking all necessary steps to become the best estimator I can be. “

“The biggest major change in my life was my parents’ divorce. I was sad at first but I kind of knew it was coming so it wasn't really as traumatizing as it would be for some people. My dad only moved like five minutes away so it really wasn't that bad. I was more freaking out for freshman year and leaving home.”

“Going to college and leaving my family and friends behind was probably one of the biggest changes I had to face. At first, I didn't know what to do since no one was guiding or telling me what I should and shouldn't do but then I adjusted to the situation by seeing what everyone else was doing and by testing the boundaries of what should and shouldn't be done (this was done through freshman year) and by basically the end of freshman year/beginning of sophomore year I was fully adjusted to the new living situation.”

“The death of my grandmother was really hard for myself and my whole family, however I believe it brought us closer together in our time of need and comfort.”

Have you ever experienced a major change to your life? How did you react to it?

“I have experienced many major changes, the most major being a death of a sibling. I reacted to the change as many people would. I was angry and upset and frustrated and at first I could not accept it. I began to realize the implications this change had on my life and and my families and saw it as something that I could not fight. It sucks and I still get emotional thinking about it, but we have to accept the things we cannot control.”

“The major life change that I experience was when I left high school and join the Marine Corps. The way I started to see it was a stepping stone for the future but at the same time I know that all it takes is a simple mistake for this to be the last thing ill do. For me I think the days preceding the one I actually left was the worst. The more you stop and contemplate the possibilities, the more worked up I got. however, when I realized that there was an infinite number of possible outcomes that could happen to me in the next five year span. My contract could be turned void on the way to work and they could send me back home to my friends and family, or I could have a brain aneurysm. Fearing change is to fear an infinite amount of possibilities. Which in my opinion wouldn’t take long to drive a man mad.”

“When I graduated high school I left home for the first time and went to Philly, and then I decided to come to Florida for 8 months. I looked at it as a positive thing and something that would help me in the long run.”

“Ending a relationship of four years was a major change that impacted my life dramatically. I had a hard time feeling emotionally stable for months following and still experience episodes of depression from time to time.”

Do you ever turn to forms of support for positivity, such as faith/religion, support from family/friends, meditation, etc.?

“I pray a lot. I pray for the health of my family, friends, loved ones, and myself. I truly believe that if you pray for something, and do your part in attaining it, you will receive it. I pray for strength every day and I find that it makes me a stronger person. Whether there truly is a God answering my prayers, or I’m simply a self-fulfilling prophecy, prayer is efficient in my eyes and a great way to keep in touch with your inner-guide, or soul.”

“I guess my support for positivity would be my friends…I can talk to them if I encounter a problem and they wont judge me.”

“I am not very religious but sometimes I pray to God whenever I feel like I need more support for a big event in my life. I also don't really meditate but listening to music calms me down and makes me clear my mind of everything that is unnecessary and finally I most often go to friends or family for help and advice on any event in my life as they are the people that know me the most and the ones that I have the most trust in.”

“I definitely turn to friends and family for support when I need a positive outlook on something and I can't seem to find it myself. Sometimes hearing someone else’s point of view can make you think about a situation more and get a better grip on it.”

Do you ever turn to forms of support for positivity, such as faith/religion, support from family/friends, meditation, etc.?

“My main forms of support for positivity are my family. They have been there with me through everything and give me the encouragement and strength I need to go on with my day.”

“Faith/religion to me are like the missing piece to someone who believes they have an incomplete puzzle. Family and friends I believe are all we need mentally and maybe even biologically to overcome hardships of change. As naturally interacting beings, all it takes is a few days of complete isolation to question reality. But to sit next to another living thing, experiencing everything you are from another perspective is infinitely calming. Family and relationships can fill any void a person has.”

“I often turn to friends when in need of support for positivity. Surrounding myself with the people I share a bond with is therapeutic for me. Just being with friends who omit positivity has a soothing effect and prompts me to mirror their attitudes.”

“I look at friends and family a lot because I know no matter how many times I fail or am down in the dumps, they are always there.”

Do you feel that you are in control of your overall attitude?

“I do feel that I’m in control of my overall attitude. Do I think I HAVE control, all of the time? No. But I do think my attitude is in the realm of my control; it all depends on the moment, and the sum amount of crap the idiots surrounding me throw directly my way.”

“Yes, I feel in control of my attitude for the most part although sometimes I will randomly feel anxious, but I don’t ever feel like I cant control my emotions.”

“I mostly feel in control of my overall attitude because I believe that I can control most of the situations in my life and because of this I can ultimately affect/change my attitude to fit the situations that I encounter. However, I feel like sometimes, especially in college, I have no control over my attitude (especially right now that I'm waiting for a decision from pharmacy school) and I feel like I can't control my attitude for this since the decision is not in my hands and I have done everything I could have done but I'm still waiting.”

“I feel that I am in control of my attitude, whether it be handling it myself or asking others for support or advice, it's still my decision to control how I feel.”

Do you feel that you are in control of your overall attitude?

“I feel as if I can control my mental outlook to an extent, but during times of deep despondency it is difficult to even fake a positive attitude.”

“No , but I’m working on being in control.”

“Attitude is everything, and achieving true enthusiasm is not only beneficial for you, it actually influences the people around you. Controlling it isn't always easy but when push comes to shove, only you can defeat yourself. That last line of warfare is war of the mind. That's your home and what you say goes. Unless you had some sort of mental illness to begin with, no major life event can make you lose footing in reality. You decide your fate, how long you're going to dwell in negative space, and when you're ready to start an optimistic lifestyle.”

“I do feel I am in control of my overall attitude. The way I experience events and my perception definitely influence my attitudes towards them which I believe is under my control.”

Do you feel that you have had a generally consistent attitude throughout your life, or have certain

influences/experiences contributed to your overall mind-set?

“I certainly have not had a generally consistent attitude throughout my life. When I was younger, I got involved in a crowd that was no good for me, and began abusing drugs. The drug abuse created a lot of inner and outer conflict in my life. I was 15 years old, and had no idea what I was getting myself into. I remember being pretty positive that I wouldn't live to see 18. I’m 23 now and I feel like I’m just beginning to live. I was a very negative, nihilistic being in my teens. I've grown to become a positive, influential and spiritual person. Maybe I’m so positive now because I’m happy to be alive and well. Or maybe I was this person all along, and the drug abuse was just burying that person inside. I’ll never know. But yeah, I definitely haven’t had a “consistent” attitude throughout my whole life. If you say you have, you’re probably lying, or not thinking hard enough.”

“I think overall I'm a pretty optimistic person so I feel like that has carried me throughout my life. I try to see the good in people and not the bad but lately through the things I read in the news about the bombings, killings and other crime, I feel like I've gotten more pessimistic about people and generally feel less optimistic than I did back in my early-mid teenage years.”

“I think as I've matured throughout my life my attitude has slightly changed but in general it has been pretty much the same. Going to Nicaragua helped strengthen my attitude of being selfless and giving to those in need. It strengthened my views of not taking things for granted and being appreciative of everything I am granted in my life, whether it be a roof over my head, food on my plate or being given the chance at a good education.”

“I think that overall I am generally a happy person. Aside from intermittent bouts of depression, I am always in high sprits, laughing, and acting foolish. Most of the time these episodes of sadness stem from thinking about my own life-changing experiences in retrospect, but they do not tend to interfere with my usual positive outlook on life.”

Do you feel that you have had a generally consistent attitude throughout your life, or have certain

influences/experiences contributed to your overall mind-set?

“I think that I have a pretty consistent attitude through out life. I think I have always been a happy person, although more recently I have been speaking up. I don’t know if that has to do with attitude but if I don’t want to do something I can just say no so I think that is better then being forced to do something I didn’t want to do.”

“I think as we grow up we change from having a naive attitude to becoming a little more jaded. The more we learn about the world and the injustices associated it hard not to. I think that I have gone through phases in my young adult life that transcend a bit of existentialist and nihilist attitudes but I am trying to make myself maintain my optimism and positivity.”

“I think the basis of our attitudes come with our upbringing. We are given choices as soon as we become aware of how to behave. Absent of parental guidance; Why do some children choose to whine while others wait patiently? From this initial basis of thought process we further develop with age and handle each new situation. These new situations change us yes, but there had to be a foundation to change in the first place right?”

“My attitude towards things has been all over the place, I’m usually a positive person, but I have hit a few low points.”

Survey Results

Overall, most participants felt that their attitude towards a major life change was dependent on the type of change they were to encounter. Several expressed some initial feelings of anxiety toward change, yet in the end their attitude was based on the event itself.

When faced with a major life change, many responded by describing their initial emotions and somewhat negative outlook, but then went on to describe how they overcame these feelings and learned to accept and adjust to this change.

There was a significant theme of turning to faith and relying on friends/family for support and positivity. Many identified these as sources of strength, trust, and optimism.

Majority felt that they were in control of their overall attitude. However, there was a common response that some life scenarios generate a lack of control over attitude.

Many described a generally consistent attitude that they have held throughout their lives, which has only strengthened or altered slightly as they grow older.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YsQ0Cw9iWI

A Somewhat Spiritual Perspective

“That’s what happens with change, sometimes you get something added to your pack or what you’re carrying, and you shift and adjust and you take the next step forward.”

A common theme among the survey results was the element of faith or religion in keeping positivity and maintaining strength. In this video clip, Sister Beck emphasizes the role of faith in her life in helping her to accept the changes she may face and handle them with a positive attitude. Take a look!

I think in the video, Sister Beck holds a significant perspective. She discusses a personal change in her life that affected not only her but her family as well. Yet she expresses her faith in the Lord to help us handle and adjust to difficult changes we may encounter in life. She points out that our only option is to adjust, as we have to move forward in life, so we might as well do so with a positive attitude.

Use Meditation to Change Your Attitude

This article from The Daily Heal suggests that we can control our attitude through mediation. The focus of the article is to alter your attitude to achieve positivity, using these six key points: One must try to put oneself in the other person’s shoes

sometimes to understand the other person’s viewpoint. One must learn to listen to others with patience. Most of us are in

a hurry to talk and want others to listen but do not have enough patience to listen to the other person, which is one of the most common causes of chronic work zone stress.

Learn to look at things more objectively and dispassionately. Do your best in any given situation and leave the rest to a higher

power. Trust in the presence of a higher intelligence, `an unseen hand’,

which is always ready to guide us provided we are open to be guided.

Consider every experience as a `learning experience,’ however traumatic it may be. Once we stop labeling an experience as `good’ or `bad’, we look at it more dispassionately, and that is what is needed in a chronic stress situation.

Developing A Positive Mindset: Changing Your Attitude to Change Your Life

“You have a choice in the way you perceive whatever is going on. You have the power to choose whether you think the glass is half full or half empty.”

In this article from Ferris State University, the writer focuses on attitudes toward college specifically and attitude overall, and suggests that we are in full control of our positivity or negativity. Through a series of suggestions to maintaining a positive attitude, the article’s strong points include surrounding yourself with positive people, focusing on the optimistic, and doing what is best for yourself.

The Interplay of Affect and Cognition in Attitude Formation and Change

“The process of changing an attitude presents a formidable challenge”

This article presents the idea that there are two components that make up a person’s attitude: cognitive and affective.

The affective component consists of emotions, feelings, or drives associated with an attitude, while the cognitive component consists of beliefs, judgments, or thoughts associated with an attitude.

They discussed that we most likely don’t hold purely cognitive or purely affective based attitudes, but rather the two components combine to create our overall attitude.

The article concluded that attitude formation is an ongoing dynamic process between an individual and the environment.

My Personal Answer

After looking deeper into the question, I feel that ultimately we are in control of our attitude, given that we are mentally healthy. When it comes to accepting changes in life, I feel this goes hand in hand with our overall attitude. If we maintain a generally positive outlook in life, when we are faced with a major life adjustment, we will manage better with a positive attitude. We may be born with somewhat of a certain attitude, but I definitely feel that as we learn and grow throughout life experiences, we can reinforce or slightly alter this attitude. As we progress through life, our perception of the world around us continuously broadens and expands from our former perceptions. This ongoing process of growth allows us to reshape and strengthen our overall attitude.

Referring back to my patient from the introduction, I feel that he made it a point in his life to maintain optimism, with a great deal of this optimism stemming from his faith. It was this positivity that helped him to adjust so well to his new altered lifestyle, one in which most would be discouraged by. I was extremely overwhelmed by the generous feedback I received in my survey. The personal experiences and deep emotions that were shared in the responses helped me a great deal in looking further into my question, and thus coming to a conclusive answer. Changes in life are inevitable, so once we can learn to accept and even embrace these life adjustments, we can learn and grow from them. A positive attitude is beneficial in doing so, as it allows us to be open and optimistic to these changes. Change can be good or bad, but with an optimistic attitude, the process of accepting change can be a positive thing.

References

Edwards, K. (1990). The interplay of affect and cognition in attitude formation and change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(2), 202-216. Retrieved from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.helin.uri.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0031276d-6f7e-47c0-826a-689277b5461c@sessionmgr14&vid=2&hid=28

Strampfer, T., Bracale, C., Sandor, S., Dart, A., Hesketh, L., Scarano, M., Mantiglia, S., & Mezzanotte, N. (2013, 4 15). Interview by A. Rosamilia. Attitude.

Low, L., & Woolmer, J. (2007). Developing a positive mindset: Changing your attitude to change your life. 1-5. Retrieved from http://www.ferris.edu/colleges/university/eccc/PDF/positive-mindset.pdf

Accepting change [Web]. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YsQ0Cw9iWI

The Daily Heal. (2011, May 19). Use meditation to change your attitude. Retrieved from http://dailyheal.com/meditation-news/use-meditation-to-change-your-attitude/