When Your Attitude Changes, Your Life Changes
Bible passage: Exodus 15:22–27
“22. Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24. So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" 25. Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. "
William James, a pragmatist philosopher at Harvard University, is famous for his diverse studies on human nature. He once presented a famous research finding: “If a person changes just this one thing, their life will change.” What is this one thing that he said could change your life?
On the screen, we have displayed a quote from Professor William James. Can you guess the word that fits in the parentheses? “The greatest discovery of our generation is that a human being can change their life by changing their
( ).” Some might think it’s their appearance.
Others might believe it’s their education, personality, or environment - opinions will vary from person to person. However, it’s not an external condition that changes one’s life. The correct answer to fill in the parentheses is “attitude.” Life’s attitude, the attitude of the mind.
Mtazamo Wako Unapobadilika, Maisha Yako Hubadilika
Andiko la Biblia: Kutoka 15:22–27
“22. Kisha Musa akawaongoza Waisraeli kutoka Bahari ya Shamu, wakaingia katika Jangwa la Shuri. Wakasafiri jangwani siku tatu bila kupata maji. 23. Walipofika Mara hawakuweza kunywa maji yake kwa sababu yalikuwa machungu. Ndiyo maana mahali hapo pakaitwa Mara. 24. Basi watu wakamnung’unikia Musa, wakisema, ‘Tunywe nini?’ 25. Musa akamlilia BWANA, naye BWANA akamwonyesha kipande cha mti. Musa akakitupa majini, nayo maji yakawa matamu. Hapo BWANA akawapa agizo na sheria, akawajaribu.”
William James, mwanafalsafa wa pragmatiki katika Chuo Kikuu cha Harvard, anajulikana kwa tafiti zake mbalimbali kuhusu tabia ya mwanadamu. Wakati mmoja aliwasilisha matokeo maarufu ya utafiti: “Mtu akibadilisha jambo hili moja tu, maisha yake yatabadilika.” Ni jambo gani hilo alilosema linaweza kubadilisha maisha yako?
Kwenye skrini tumeweka nukuu ya Profesa William James. Je, unaweza kukisia neno linalojaza nafasi iliyo kwenye mabano? “Ugunduzi mkuu zaidi wa kizazi chetu ni kwamba mwanadamu anaweza kubadilisha maisha yake kwa kubadilisha ( ).” Wengine wanaweza kufikiri kwamba ni mwonekano wao.
Wengine wanaweza kudhani ni elimu, utu au mazingira yao; majibu hutofautiana kati ya mtu na mtu. Hata hivyo, maisha ya mtu hayabadilishwi na hali za nje. Neno sahihi la kujaza nafasi hiyo ni “mtazamo”—mtazamo wa maisha, yaani mtazamo wa moyo na akili.
