‘The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them’.

What does mindset really mean and why should you concern yourself with your own mindset?

Mindset is how you think about yourself and your life. Whether we are aware of it or not, everyone keeps a running account of what’s happening to them, what it all means, what impact it has on them and others and what they should or shouldn’t do about a situation. Our minds are constantly monitoring and interpreting, that’s the way life is and how we make sense of the world and what we do. However, often the interpretation gets skewed. Some people put more extreme interpretations on events and then react with exaggerated feelings of anger, superiority, anxiety, depression, or may even withdraw from others.

Mindset is comprised of the beliefs, values, fears, judgments, rules and ideas that you hold. A healthy mindset or a growth mindset is a good indicator of a person’s ability to respond to life challenges. What’s in your mindset determines your attitude and approach to life and also your energy and vitality level. The inner (mindset) game dictates the outer (results) game.

For example, if I approach a difficult situation with a specific outcome in mind and have an ‘anything is possible’ mindset then this will influence my results. My interactions would demonstrate a willingness and positive attitude to communication and my energy level would be congruent with my desired outcome. Whereas with a ‘not all things are possible, let’s wait and see’ mindset allows your mind to be unfocused, see negative consequences and you are more likely to feel your energy and vitality draining.

Thoughts drive actions and actions achieve results. How you think dictates how you live your life. Mindset is what we choose to operate with. Mindset can be changed, modified or altered and you can choose to be who you want to be simply by thinking from a particular perspective.

Having a positive mindset is having a positive approach to life and the best way to achieve this is by focusing on what you do want rather than what you don’t want. People with a growth mindset believe that resilience; hard work, effort and determination contribute towards success and achievement. They believe that their basic qualities such as intelligence or talent can be fostered and developed. One of the results of a growth mindset is a love or learning and an enjoyment of challenge, an appetite to self reflect learn and develop oneself to achieve fulfillment.

7 Steps to creating a healthy mindset

1. Recognise the need or desire to have a healthy mindset in order to learn and develop
2. Examine your feelings and reactions to situations and be aware of these
3. Make a personal commitment to adopt a healthy mindset and observe triggers that challenge ‘old’ patterns and behaviours
4. Write a list of affirmations that support a healthy growth mindset
5. Read or listen to your affirmations daily
6. Check in with yourself at least weekly to see how you are changing
7. Reward yourself for progress

Mindset, why it’s important and how to use it is a post from: Lorrah Berg