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| It's hard not to have a good attitude in a place like this: Zion National Park, Utah |
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard students lament:
- “I didn’t bring the right materials.”
- “I don’t like this new brush.”
- “I can’t find anything to paint.”
- “It’s just not happening for me.”
On the other hand, I’ve heard statements like these many times, too:
- “I didn’t bring the right materials, but I think I can make what I did bring work.”
- “I don’t like this new brush, but maybe I’ll learn how to use it.”
- “I can’t find anything to paint, but I’ll just pick something, and maybe it’ll engage me.”
- “I’m loving it!”
What’s the difference? Attitude. I find that students who put a positive spin on a negative situation tend to have a positive experience.
We all have bad days. But the wrong materials can become the right ones with a positive attitude. You can paint with a stick if you have to. You may not get the outcome you and the teacher were hoping for, but you can still have a meaningful experience and learn something--and maybe even create something beautiful.
In my next post, I’ll give you some tips for changing your attitude.
