Attitude
Attitude is a relatively fixed way of interpreting situations, one's own abilities and the importance of effort.
Definition
Influences whether a difficulty will be perceived as a threat, evidence of failure, or an opportunity to learn. It is not a magic switch for success, but a framework of interpretation that can facilitate or hinder action.
Key ideas
- Interpretation frame
- Impact on persistence
- Relationship to learning
Practice and life
After the error, write down the first automatic thought and next to it the second, more teaching interpretation.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to reduce attitude to positive thinking. The second mistake is to ignore real conditions and resources.
> Attitude doesn't change the facts, but it changes the way you approach them.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- How do I interpret difficulty?
- Does my language support learning?
- What attitude helps me get back to trying?