Mindset Matters
I’m a strong believer in the idea that “what you think about, you bring about.” This quote by author and documentarian Rhonda Byrne means a lot to me and is one of my favourites because of how its truth resonates with me and my life. It’s not that you can just think about winning the lottery right now and hear from the Lotto 6/49 tonight. Instead, it’s a bit more insidious—the things we think about will creep into our actions and behaviours. For instance, someone who always thinks about their friendships will make ample time to dedicate to their friends. A person who values spiritual health, and cherishes their religion, will focus their behaviours in a way that reflects this key value.
The second part of her quote is that “your whole life is a manifestation of the thoughts that go on in your head.”
Do you ever pause to think about the thoughts that run through your mind? What do you spend the most time thinking about? What occupies your brain during your waking hours, and where do these thoughts come from?
I’ve always been drawn to the premise of mind power and mind techniques. Once I learned that most of the thoughts that we experience in a day are negative, I’ve been shifting my attention to my learned thoughts and beliefs. My goal is to unlearn the counterproductive ones to make room for new, productive thoughts.
Science agrees—those who have a positive mindset benefit from lower stress levels, longer lives, better overall mental health, increased academic success, and more! Before we dive into it, what exactly is a mindset? Experts define one’s mindset as a set of attitudes, values, frame of mind, and disposition. Mindsets arise from someone’s world view or their life philosophy.
In this blog post, I’ll summarize ten of my favourite tips for mastering your mindset.
Develop a growth mindset
A growth mindset means that you believe your intelligence and talents can be developed over time, as opposed to a fixed mindset where you believe intelligence is fixed—so if you're not good at something, you might believe you'll never be good at it.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness focuses our attention on what we are experiencing in the present moment. This practice helps us experience events as they are, instead of getting lost in the past or future.
Marvelous meditation
Meditation is a mental exercise that involves relaxation, focus, and awareness. Meditation is to the mind what physical exercise is to the body. The practice is usually done individually, in a still seated position, and with eyes closed.
Gratitude is a must
When you focus on what’s good in your life, you will notice more goodness in your life. Taking time to practice gratitude has been proven to have many benefits. Try writing down three things you’re grateful for each day!
Jot it down in a journal
Journaling can help clarify thoughts and feelings, know yourself better, and solve problems effectively. Try journaling to reduce stress. Writing out your emotions can help reduce the intensity of those feelings, which can help you to feel calmer and better able to stay in the present. Journaling can help you track patterns/growth.
The power of positive affirmations
Positive affirmations are simple statements that fill your brain with positive self-talk to manifest your intentions. Affirmations help us focus on actions we want to manifest, and by verbalizing them, we feel empowered. Think of it as rewiring our brains by filling them with hormones! Affirmations can break patterns of negative thoughts.
Picture perfect
Visualizations are very powerful. Your subconscious does not know the difference between what it has imagined vs. what has happened. When you have a goal, picture yourself achieving that goal. Use your imagination and try to feel how you would feel if you were there.
You are the company you keep
Energy is contagious! You pick up the energy of those around you. So, if you are around negative people, then you may start to think negatively yourself.
There’s an app for that
There’s an app for pretty much everything. Here are a few of my faves: Headspace, Buddhify, Calm, Calm The Storm, Healthy Minds, Perspective.
Seek support if you need it
If you are having difficulty remaining positive, then you may need some support. Getting some help can sometimes make a huge difference. Reach out to a trusted person in your life or seek the help of a professional.
Our mindsets are so important for setting us up for success and helping us curate the beautiful lives we want to life. Remind yourself of the power of the thoughts you replay in your mind. They’ll become your beliefs and define your life experiences.
Since we live in a world of thought patterns and beliefs (our thoughts create our experiences!), you really are what you think! I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for us to pay attention to our inner dialogue. After all, our inner dialogue conditions and controls us, so it’ll be beneficial to think in ways that encourage us to do better. Positive thoughts and controlling your mindset in general can make a major difference for your mental health. I wish you a happy and healthy mind journey!
Thank you for reading.