Simple Tips to Improve Your Mindset

There is a lot of talk around mindset these days as there should be but I think in many cases some things are overlooked.

It’s easy to say to someone you need to have a positive mindset but what does that really mean? 

It starts with your thoughts. 

What’s on your mind?

Is it positive or negative?

Is it fear based?

Is it self-limiting or uplifting?

How we think about ourselves is often not positive at all.

The place to start with mindset is what we think about ourselves. Is it positive or negative?

Is it growth oriented or limiting?

We often look for some fancy technique to improve our thought process but it really comes down to being aware of the thoughts themselves. 

When you start to focus your mind on what you want instead of what you don’t want it’s much easier to move forward.

Too many people focus on the past or what they don’t want and it holds them back.

In order to move forward you need to know what you want and then simply move towards it. You must keep your focus on that as opposed to all the minutia around you.

Most people get stuck on the things that have very little meaning and are nothing more than distractions disguised as problems. 

A simple question to ask, is this thought moving me toward or away from what I want?

Obviously, this helps if you know what you want. For some people this is what holds them back, they simply do not know what they want.

This is another area where I believe having a growth mindset helps. Being growth oriented makes it easier to move forward as opposed to thinking you can’t improve.

The stoic philosopher Epictetus said:

“Sickness is a hindrance to the body, but not to your ability to choose, unless that is your choice. Lameness is a hindrance to the leg, but not to your ability to choose. Say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens, then you will see such obstacles as hindrances to something else, but not to yourself.”

Apply this to your mindset. You have the ability to choose your mindset regardless of the challenges you face daily. 

We look at too many obstacles in our way but most of the time we are choosing to see them that way as opposed to what they really are. In many instances they are not an obstacle but mere inconvenience. 

You have the choice to feel a certain way, no one can make you feel anything and that is what we are screwing up. We think other people have control over how we feel or what we do and it is simply false.

You choose your path.

Having the right mindset for this will make this much easier. I am not denying the fact that we all have crap that shows up in our lives but it is how we choose to deal with it that matters.

Do you take positive action or blame the situation? Winners don’t waste time blaming others they simply find solutions and so should you.