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Attitude is perhaps one of the greatest tools we have to affect our lives — positive or negative. The Charles Dickens character Ebeneezer Scrooge described his former employer, Mr. Fezziwig, as someone who had “the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.” This was an employer with an attitude that lightened his employee’s labor.
But what is attitude? Where does it come from? Can we change it? Dr. Suzuki had an attitude about his own personal talent. “I was not born with enough talent to become great,” he wrote in the preface to his book, Ability Development From Age Zero. By the time Dr. Suzuki finished this paragraph, he was able to write, “[T]oday I can say, ‘Talent is not inborn.'”
How did Dr. Suzuki change his attitude from one end of the spectrum of fatal negativity to the other end of life-giving positivity? This episode explores the importance of attitude in our lives and discusses the importance of self reflection to keep us mindful about our attitude choices.
If you have questions or answers or you would like to comment or leave me a voice mail, you can do so at (512) 537-6356. If you would like to send me an email, you may do so at paula@teachsuzuki.com. I welcome comments and questions about this episode and am interested in hearing about the perspective of other parents and teachers.
You may find more information and useful articles on my blog at: Teach Suzuki Blog.
Until next time,
Happy Practicing!
—– Paula —–
© 2018 by Paula E. Bird
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