President M. Russell Ballard on the influence of our attitudes

President M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985. He became acting president of the Twelve in January 2018.

"Attitude is an important part of the foundation upon which we build a productive life. In appraising our present attitude, we might ask: 'Am I working to become my best self? Do I set worthy and attainable goals? Do I look toward the positive in life? Am I alert to ways that I can render more and better service? Am I doing more than is required of me?'

"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude. George Bernard Shaw wrote: 'People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.' (Mrs. Warren’s Profession, in Plays by George Bernard Shaw, New York: New American Library, 1960, p. 82.)"

- M. Russell Ballard, "Providing for Our Needs," General Conference April 1981
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Seeking "a productive life" is a worthy and important goal. It doesn't happen by coincidence or chance; it comes, as President Ballard indicates, through our personal efforts, working towards worthy goals, serving faithfully, going the extra mile:

President Ballard believes that we have the ability to shape our lives by the selection of our attitudes. We are not merely the victims of circumstances; on the contrary, we have the ability to shape our circumstances. It is good for us each to consider how well we are doing in setting the goals, choosing the attitudes, and controlling the direction of our life!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)