By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
When my daughter had unli text, she thought of sending inspirational and funny messages daily and one day she sent me this quote from Charles Swindoll- “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Thank you, dear daughter. Some weeks after I got this text I dropped by somebody’s house for a brief friendly visit. After some welcome remarks, we talked about the elections. Megosh, this person contradicted everything I was saying. I had to leave after a few minutes because I couldn’t go on forever debating with anybody who wouldn’t even pause and consider what the other person is saying. It was good that my next activity was walking so as I walked the street, I remembered my daughter’s text. I almost laughed when I realized that it was foolish of me to even talk to this person in the first place. Some people can be so “nega” (have a negative attitude) that they can drain us. That is, if we allow them.
At work, non-performing or low-performing employees are usually not those who have low IQ. Most often, they have an attitude problem. Some employees think of work as just something to while the time away and then receive a salary at the end of the month. Some will watch the clock and if it is 5 pm, they will drop whatever they are doing and leave, even if their work for the day is not finished.
Some people are just plain negative. When an idea comes along, instead of giving it some thought, some people would think of all the negative things to shoot it down, especially if the idea did not come from them or their relative. Just like this boss who would veto everything that did not come from him. In their staff meeting, one subordinate raised his hand to speak and said, “Sir, we would like to go on field work these coming months.” As sure as the sun rises in the morning, the boss said “NO, nobody will go on field work this time.” The staff almost gave each other high five…. because they didn’t want to go on field. I could imagine their poker faces. Lesson: don’t let your boss ruin your life. It is a matter of attitude. Again, I would like to share more texts from my daughter. “I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade…. And try to find someone whose life had given them vodka, and have a party.” – Ron White.
Attitude is your personal view about something – your opinion or feeling- your point of view that affects the way of behave. Attitude is what makes 90% of our life, that’s how important it is. It is important to your health because attitude will determine your actions. Former mayor Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City has this simple acronym for health – DEA – which stands for DIET, EXERCISE AND ATTITUDE. I totally agree and I thank the good Mayor for simplifying what we, doctors, like to complicate. And it is so good that, when he was the mayor of Baguio City, he didn’t fail to mention this important health message when he welcomed participants of health conferences and activities in the highest city in the country. Thank you so much, Atty. Domogan! Keep advocating for health and wellness, wherever you are!
In this present age where food choices are chaotic, attitude is what makes one overeat, eat hurriedly, consume a lot of sugar. Attitude is what makes people smoke even if they know it is dangerous to one’s health and the health of others. Attitude is what makes people spray poison to vegetables and sell them to others. Attitude is what makes people choose to be positive, to eat healthy and have enough physical activity. For you, dear reader, what’s your attitude towards food and exercise?
Now, how do we know that we have an attitude problem? Let us use this simple equation of proper diet + enough exercise + right attitude = good health. Ergo, if you have a health problem or problems, then there is something amiss in your diet, exercise and attitude. And since our premise is that 90% of our life is made by our attitude then chances are, there’s something amiss with your attitude. With the elections over, we now have time to reflect on how our health of body-mind and spirit is.***
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22
