Change your focus,change your attitude

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As the winner of the world and U.S pro cycling championships, Lance Armstrong was a twenty five year old rising star on the international circuit. Then in 1996,he discovered that a particularly deadly form of cancer had spread from his testicles to his stomach,lungs, and brain. Doctors said that he had only a 50 percent chance of surviving. His racing career was put to hold for more than a year while he underwent intensive chemotherapy.

Someone who felt helpless about controlling his attitude probably would have plunged into depression or despair and given up. But Lance Armstrong amazed his doctors and much to the world by not letting his extreme circumstances defeat him. Instead,he got back on his bicycle and continued to train during his treatments,sometimes riding as much as 50 miles/day.

Although others might have chosen an attitude of helplessness,despair or defeat, Lance Armstrong chose a combative attitude towards the disease that threatened his life. It's true that many people have fought cancer bravely and still lost our in spite of courageous efforts. But for reasons that even his doctors have not yet determined Armstrong won,his cancer disappeared entirely.

Since this is real life and not a TV show, Lance Armstrong still had challenges to deal with. The life threatening experience drained him emotionally and spiritually. For a brief period the cyclist went into depression. He refused even to get on his racing bike. He spent several weeks acting like a reckless kid instead of a serious athlete,but as time approached for a charity race he had commuted to, Armstrong once again asserted his power to choose his attitude and response to challenging times.

With the encouragement not close friends,he began riding again to rebuild his strength and to rediscover his love for competitive cycling. He chose an attitude of gratitude for being given another chance at life. As a result,he reached new levels of accomplishment,which are every bit as astounding as his defeat for cancer. In the summer 1999,he set a new world record in winning one of the sports worlds demanding events,the 2,285 mile Tour de France.

The power to choose is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Armstrong chose an attitude that empowered him. He battled briefly with a more negative thoughts and attitude,but to be fair,he had been through one of life's most difficult tests and he was exhausted physically and mentally. In the end,the most important thing is that he realized he had the power to choose another,more constructive attitude, and he did.

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