Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When asked how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I'd be twins!" He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling them how to look on the positive side. This style made me curious, so one day I asked him, "I don't get it. You can't be positive all the time. How do you do it?"
Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from it. I choose to learn. Every time someone complains to me, I can choose to accept their complaining or point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side."
"Yeah, right. It isn't that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose your mood. The bottom line is: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Michael said.