How a Positive Attitude Can Help You Embrace 'Another Day In Which to Excel'

Everything we do in life is about attitude.

If you do something well, you likely have a positive attitude about starting and finishing hard work. The opposite holds true if you have a bad attitude about what you are doing. Staying positive is something you have to pursue actively.

Such a mindset typically does not come naturally. Even the most self-motivated and disciplined achievers in life need an occasional attitude adjustment. Sometimes it can come from your friends and family, a self-realization that your life is not as bad as you think or even a simple mantra you repeat daily.

Here is a story about one of my favorite sayings that I continue to use every morning as I get out of bed.

When I was Midshipman Fourth Class Smith in 1987, one of the common phrases you would hear as you were asked, "What day is it?" was, "Sir, it is another day in which to excel, sir." I always thought that was a pretty motivating phrase and still do. But as a plebe at the United States Naval Academy, once you start to like something, someone will find a way to make your life a little harder. I was asked, "Smith, what does that phrase mean? Where does it come from?"

As a first-year student at USNA, they drive home five basic responses: 1. Yes, sir; 2. No, sir; 3. Aye aye, sir (meaning you understand the command and will do as instructed); 4. The correct answer; and 5. I'll find out, sir.

As you can guess, I had to say, "I'll find out, sir." So I was self-tasked with finding out more about the phrase that I chanted every day. I knew that if my squad leader asked me again and I did not know the answer, I would have some form of extra duty to eat up whatever spare time I had.

These five responses ingrain in you a sense of accountability, teach you to take the initiative and find out information when you do not know it. Way back then, you did your research at the library. (There was no Google.) Luckily, Nimitz Library has an extensive collection of books, and after a relatively short period of time, I found a book titled "Another Day In Which to Excel", written by Col. Paul Barber (USAF).

"Another Day In Which to Excel" is Barber's life story. He grew up during the Depression in the Dust Bowl of Kansas, became an Air Force pilot and continued his service in the highest levels of government. He shared his daily phrase, "Another Day in Which to Excel," with countless soldiers and airmen, as well as young ROTC students after World War II. And he has continued to motivate generations of new military members with that phrase.

Back to attitude

It is scientifically proven that having a positive attitude is connected directly to happiness and success. Here are some ideas about how to stay positive when having a bad day:

1. It's all relative: Your bad day likely will not seem so bad when compared to someone in a war-torn country, battling cancer or serious illness, enduring the death of a loved one or enduring another catastrophic event. Eventually, we will have our share of really bad days -- that's life -- but the little things that tend to beat us up pale in comparison to REAL problems. Snap out of it and move on.

2. Be positive: Start your day saying to yourself or reading a poster on the wall you made about how you are going to crush your day. A quick, positive saying can help frame your day. Doing so can jump-start your thinking in the right direction, even when you are tired and hungry.

3. Eat, drink and breathe: Be aware that sometimes your mood can be affected directly by hunger (grumpy), dehydration (drained) and stress (anxious). Eat something healthy, drink water and focus on deep inhales/exhales when feeling anxiety about a future event.

4. Set the example: Be an example to others around you. Smile and make them smile, too. Your positivity and negativity are contagious. You either can be a faucet or a drain on others around you. You can fill them up or suck the life out of them. Your attitude matters to others around you.

5. Find ways to excel: Even when you are pushed to your limits and have to do things that seemingly have no direction toward your goals, do them at your best. Take meaningless tasks and time them. Race your personal best or that of others in your group.

We had a story about two former students who were attending a spec-ops selection program recently. They were tasked with bear-crawling for more than a quarter-mile as a punishment for being screwed up. Due to much of their preparation, which included bear crawls (Devil's Mile), they were crushing the event to the point that the instructor said, "Who are you guys, Varsity Bear Crawl Team?" This was certainly funny, but more importantly, a positive acknowledgement from an instructor is a good thing, especially during an event that is meant to punish.

It is understandable that being a positive person does not come naturally to everyone. I am sure you know many who are just the opposite and are great at being negative. Avoid them.

If you cannot avoid them due to your current situation, you have to focus on the positive and let any negativity fall away. Keep pushing forward and remember that every day starts a new day "in which to excel."

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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