Monday, September 21, 2009

Nice One...

I saw this quote on a friends blog and I wanted to put it here. I think it sends a great message. One that sometimes I overlook when I get caught up in highs and lows and tears and complications...in other words my life. Does this mean I won't have my little fits of rage anymore? Nope, not at all. Sometimes I like them. Ranting and raving every now and then, oddly enough, makes me feel better. BUT I do think this quote sends a wonderful message about enduring and attitude. Enjoy it!


"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

6 comments:

Stacey said...

nice one is right! thanks for sharing...perhaps that will be my "new member meeting" thought on sunday...

Meri said...

It's beautiful. And SO TRUE. We can't be sweet and understanding all the time, (hello, we're human!) But if we are aware how our actions effect others, I say we are doing pretty well. :)

michaelstubbs said...

I have always liked Goethe. They use the last half of this quote in lessons at the MTC all the time--at least they used to when I worked there.

Julia said...

Thanks for sharing. We've really gotten into this... "Attitude is everything" mentality at my house with all of Sarah's problems. I was having a pretty crabby day Friday, basically really feeling sorry for myself until I realized that I had chosen to be. I changed my mind, and Saturday turned out a whole lot happier!!

Josie and Wayne said...

It is a great quote. Thanks for the reminder!

The Lane Family said...

This is a great quote and certainly something I need to remember more often. Thank you for sharing!!!