A-B-C METHOD OF MANAGING ATITUDES

As an airport skycap checked through a customer at curbside, he accidentally knocked over the man's luggage. He quickly collected the fallen bags and apologized for the mishap. Unappeased, the traveler burst into an angry tirade, raging and swearing at the skycap for his clumsiness. Throughout the traveler's rant, the baggage handler simply apologized and smiled. The angry man continued to berate the skycap, until he finally headed off to catch his plane. Even then the baggage handler remained calm and passively smiled.The next customer in line witnessed the incident and marveled at the skycap's professionalism and control. "I have never seen such restraint and humility," he said. "How do you keep your cool when somebody is attacking you so viciously?""It's easy," the skycap answered. "He's going to Denver, but his bags are going to Detroit."That is certainly ONE way of managing attitudes, but here is a moreconstructive approach.you heard of the A-B-C method of managing your attitude? It's simple and effective.

"A" stands for the "Activating Event." Let's say you get stuck intraffic. The traffic jam is the activating event.

"B" stands for your "Belief System." You believe that traffic is only getting worse and you'll have more and more days like this ahead.

"C" stands for the "Consequence of the Event." You become angry. You want to honk your horn. Your stomach is tied in knots and you bangthe dashboard with your fist.

The problem is...most people jump directly from "A" to "C." They get stuck in traffic and become angry. They think the traffic jam made them upset. They don't realize that they didn't HAVE to get angry.They skipped an important step!Let's try it again:

"A" - you get stuck in traffic.

"B" - you believe that you were given some unexpected and extra time to spend in solitude, to listen to a great tape or to plan your day.

"C" - the consequence is that you feel gratitude for the gift of time.I have a friend who is fond of saying, "A traffic jam has no power tomake us angry. It just stops our car." He is aware that between the activating event and the consequence is something that we control: our beliefs about what is happening.The next time you have a problem -- at home or at work, big or small -- decide to manage your attitude toward it. Practice the A-B-C method. You probably can't change "A," the activating event. But try changing "B," your beliefs about the problem. When you change yourbeliefs, you also change "C," the consequences of the situation.It's as simple as A-B-C. Manage your beliefs, and you'll manage to be a lot happier! Steve Gooder

P.S. CELEBRITY QUIPN ever doubt the courage of the French. They were the ones who discovered that snails are edible. -- Doug Larson, United Feature Syndicate

THIS WEEKS PRAYER

This week ask God how He wants you to approach this season, set your priorities accordingly and ask for opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around you. As you pray about what to give to friends and family, remember to include the poor and needy. Pray for our soldiers and families who are apart from their loved ones this season. Continue to pray that our leaders would turn to God for wisdom and direction concerning our nation, our support of Israel, the war in Iraq and our global responsibilities. Matt. 22:39; I Thes. 5:17