/ THE BUSINESS OF PARKING /HUMAN RESOURCES
How About a Kick in the A? HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU and your loved ones are safe and well as
A Positive A
we continue to struggle through these trying times.
As you think about the pandemic and experiencing feelings of stress, burnout, and isolation, realize that what you allow yourself to believe is what you accept and what you communicate to others. And as it relates to our current reality, let me suggest a couple of ways that you can give yourself a kick in the attitude, to bolster your morale and regain the focus and energy you need to move forward in a positive manner. First, begin each day by engaging in positive self-talk. This is a process by which you take a realistic and positive approach to consider the things that allow you to find purpose and meaning in your existence. Each of us is part of something far greater than ourselves, and our presence in that environment adds to others’—and our own—sense of connection. Second, allow yourself to take mental breaks during the day. Enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, and sensations that are all around us in abundance, and truly understand and recognize what makes them pleasurable. By taking advantage of these two opportunities, you can greatly elevate your mood and your attitude. Next time you see someone who is suffering through a depressed mood, ask them, “Do you need a kick in the A?” Be prepared for a strange look, and quickly explain that the A is not what they think. It has the possibility of dramatically changing their reality. ◆
What’s that? The headline. Oh, the headline! I hope you did not take offense—it is not what you think. We have all heard the saying, “You need a kick in the A.” Please accept my apologies for leading you in a direction I certainly didn’t intend. When I say, “kick in the A,” I mean something totally different.
Let’s talk about the stress, burnout, and feelings of isolation we’ve experienced during these unprecedented times. I want you to know it’s OK not to be OK with everything that’s going on in the world. Your current situation does not determine your position in life. What helps determine your position in life begins
How many of you are feeling a bit stressed or even burned out because of the pandemic? How many of you also have experienced a lack of motivation or a loss of drive associated with isolation?
with your attitude, and your attitude is one of the few things you have absolute control over from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. Consider this: Your attitude allows you to create your destiny. Life isn’t about what happens to you; it’s about how you respond to the things that happen to you, and that circles back to your attitude. So when you feel yourself slipping into a malaise of some sort, ask yourself: What is in my control and what small changes can I make now that will allow me to better control my environment and realize long-term beneficial gains?
Your A When I say “A,” I mean attitude—a way of thinking or responding to something. We can say an attitude is neither positive nor negative; it only takes on a positive or negative connotation when we begin to add the many filters we have from upbringing, education, socialization, and other factors that influence our values.
8 PARKING & MOBILITY / SEPTEMBER 2020 / PARKING-MOBILITY.ORG
JULIUS E. RHODES, SPHR, is founder and principal of the mpr group and author of BRAND: YOU Personal Branding for Success in Life and Business. He is speaking at this year’s IPMI Leadership Summit (parking-mobility.org/re-imagine) and can be reached at jrhodes@mprgroup. info or 773.548.8037.
SHUTTERSTOCK / STUDIOSTOKS
I
By Julius E. Rhodes, SPHR