Change Your Attitudes, Change Your Life

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I have been thinking about Alaska and the lifestyle here, and have decided Alaska is a great training ground for preparing for Wealthy Affiliate.

Alaska is a land of challenge. It is a place where it is hard to be complacent. Here in Alaska, you often run into new problems that you have never had before, and you have to figure out a way to a solution.

(Case in point: Those of you who know Swangirl and have been following her story, will know of what I speak.)

I wrote a book about my Alaskan experience of building my own house and living for 20 years on a remote island. My transportation was an 18-foot skiff (Boston Whaler) or my own two feet. As I lived a mile and a half from the tiny village of Ouzinkie, if I wanted mail or groceries, I either took my skiff into the village or I walked in.

When going to the village afoot, I always wore my "Ouzinkie Purse," which was a giant backpack in fire engine red capable of carrying 80 pounds. At that weight, I was barely able to carry the pack. I found 40 pounds more comfortable.

My book was called "Alaskan Attitudes". My premise was that it took a certain kind of attitude to live successfully in Alaska, especially in the Bush.

Chapter I of my book is introduced by a quote from William James that is one of my favorites: "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."

It all starts with attitude. You need the attitude that you are open to and willing to change. Then you make the search, perhaps ongoing, that takes you to the knowledge of what you need to change.

Here is one thing you might find. You will come to a point where you must make a commitment. When I moved to Spruce Island, I cut all ties to my former life in Kodiak. There would be no turning back. I think we need to make the same kind of commitment to our Wealthy Affiliate business if we want to succeed. Quitting is not an option.

In my book I say, "When we set a course and vow to see it through, regardless of obstacles, we often find that gates open for us and a pathway appears." Here is a spot where attitude really helps. If we go at each day with a positive attitude that we will move forward, we are much more apt to do so.

An attitude is a combination of thoughts, feelings, and actions. Attitude defines the way we respond to a given situation. Successful Wealthy Affiliate people and Alaskans share an attitude that includes challenge as a normal way of life.

Here in Alaska we become adept at the art of making do. We believe that there is a solution to any problem; no obstacle is insurmountable. We in Wealthy Affiliate need to adapt this same attitude.

On Spruce Island on my homestead I built a dream -- one I'd had for several years. Here in WA I am building another dream, and intend to stay the course to see what I can create.

I urge you all to become dream builders. Make your dream real and vivid, and then go out and figure out a way to bring it to reality. We can do this. We are pioneers of a sort, but we are also fortunate that others have gone ahead to show the way.

Focus, focus, focus on that training. Squeeze every bit of value out of it that you can. Become a fan of the webinars. Build your structure one piece at a time. If something doesn't work, try another solution.

I am so grateful to the community here, because they are magnificent at helping out when we need the help. How fortunate we, that have folks ready to encourage or teach, giving us one less reason for frustration or despair.

We have all the accouterments needed in WA to transport us to success. We need belief, faith in ourselves, and the attitude that we will overcome.

To the top, friends! Let's get there together!

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Recent Comments

77

A wonderful post, Fran. I totally agree that a positive attitude to life is essential, no matter where we live in this world, or whatever our situation. Attitude is everything.

My first WA post was about attitude. It was read by two people who were also new members, and both from the country I live in.

As much as I appreciated the comments made by those two people, the overall response to my post was far from encouraging in that it received no other comments! But, I didn't let that stop me from creating more content.

A positive attitude is what keeps me going.


Perhaps people are getting wiser. Lots of comments on this one thus far. Attitude is definitely vital. Staying positive is the way to go.

Fran, you are an amazing woman and you are my friend-Thank you.
reading through this post inspires me, educates me and tells me I am doing the right thing all the way.
I would love to read your book Fran -- is it available on kindle?
Vicki

Check and see -- I think it is. Let me know if it is, as I can then tell others. Isn't that dumb of me -- don't even remember...I believe it is, however.

Hi Fran, thank you for this uplifting and inspiring blog. Yes I believe it really does take a strong person to live in Alaska, and you appear to do it so well. The problem with the internet is so many opportunities are being marketed as quick and easy, people fall into the trap of believing they do not have to work or do very much for that matter. WA can be a reality check, but one that works. Thank you for all the advise, great post.
Have a great day
Denise.

Thanks, Denise. Yes, in my research for reviews, I'm finding that you are too right...the "sharks" keep putting out these fake get rich quick schemes because there is a market for them.

I have found me new best quote "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." THANK YOU!!!
As someone who 100% believes that attitude and the way we think can transform you I can not believe I have never run across this quote before. I have even written a few kindle ebooks on transforming and altering your mind and thinking :)
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!

Oh, so glad you do. Can't remember where I found it, but had a lot of fun with the chapters...there are 18 of them, and I found an inspirational quote that fit every chapter.

Thank you for such an inspiring post!
All the best!

Thank YOU. I am glad you liked it.

Hi Fran and thanks. On the same page here. Cheers AJ

Thanks, Jill. We are all headed up that summit.

Most people in the World are now becoming spoilt and do not know how to put any real action into a life to be proud of. A give me society now not giving value for money. A year in Alaska would wake them up.
Tom.

You are right -- it might just do that. Not necessarily in Anchorage, but in a small community here, it would be different.

Yes. I live near Anchorage now and it is a totally different world. Most of these people have no idea what life is like outside the city and have never experienced it. It is lonely for me since I don't have anyone to share my past with. Thank goodness I have Aaron since he grew up in the bush like me.

When you can just go from your door to your car to another door and drive a paved, plowed, salted and lighted street the whole way with stoplights to tell you when to go, that is not experiencing real Alaska.

In big cities, children are being raised not knowing that eggs come from chickens. Some were told that bacon comes from pigs and now will not eat bacon.
Tom.

Very true -- Anchorage could get a divorce from Alaska and the rest of us would not know the difference. Wish Eagle River was closer to Gustavus.

That's so true, Tom. When I was a kid, I lived in Connecticut. We had this huge barn that my dad turned into a place to hold Saturday night contra and square dances. The field in front of the barn would be cram-packed with cars. My dad used to hire a kid from New York to spend the summers with us and park cars. The poor kid had never seen a cow. The "boys" would play all kinds of tricks on him...send him to the store for red, white, and blue paint, or a left-handed monkey wrench. They'd take him out snipe hunting and leave him under a tree with a bag to catch the snipe. Poor kid! Wonder what he remembered of those days.

In Australia, we asked new young workers for a left-handed screwdriver.

That makes me laugh. Did they actually look for one?

Yes and other tools as well. The first job and not game to ask any question.

our attitude will determine our future. It is very easy to say I want to give up. yet, it takes a lot of important things to consider.

You are right. It is so good that you realize that.

Quitting is the easy way out. Changing and adjusting is for the strong-minded. You, my friend, Are Very Strong! Let's build our dream together.

Thanks for more inspiration...

Thanks, Fran, very inspiring and well written.

living in Alaska is a challenge I never considered whilst living the opposite end of the world in a warm climate.

My challenges include Beaches, sun, surf and writing enough Blog posts to stay with the pack.

Love your work

Regards

peter h
Western Australia

Beaches, sun, and surf sound pretty ideal. I do love beaches...loved mine at my homestead, even if it wasn't always warm and sunny. In fact, storms on the beach could be an event worth attending.

Yes, we both have the blog post challenge. Good luck to you on yours.

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