As people work every day to better their lives and situations, they talk about how important it is to be in the right mindset to get what they want. But if you’re already down about the environment you’re in, how do you just “change” your mindset? It’s not easy and may even take some professional guidance. But it can be done.
Mindset Defined
Your mindset is the collection of all your knowledge, thoughts and beliefs about yourself, the world andeveryone in it. It acts as your filter, so all the information that comes in and all your outgoing responsespass through it, determining how you receive and react to information.
So, if your mindset is that of being “unhappy,” you’ll take in information through that lens. If you get theinformation “the internet is down,” you could think of all the reasons this makes you unhappy, causing youto feel even worse. If you were in a “happy” or “content” mindset, you would take in this informationthrough a very different lens. You might be excited about the opportunity to take a long bath, call a friendor read a book, all things that make you more content.
A Shift in Mindset
Making that change isn’t as easy as just flipping a switch, but it can be done. Here are a few tips forturning the tables on your mindset.
Examine Your Current Beliefs and Attitudes
Your mindset may have a lot to do with where you currently are, but it can absolutely shape your future.Where do you want to go? Write that down and then explore the roadblocks to getting there and how youcan overcome them.
Role Models
Whose life resembles what you’d like for yourself? Get as much information about those people aspossible. What can you emulate? How could your life be even better?
Affirmations and Gratitude Lists
What is your self-talk telling you? Not only are we our own harshest critic, but we’re pretty hard on otherstoo. Take stock of the words and attitudes you have toward yourself and others. Try to flip the dialogue assoon as you catch it becoming negative. Writing a list of five or 10 things every morning and evening thatyou’re grateful for can shift your focus to the good in your life.
It could be argued that how you think becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The good news? You can manifestjust as much good in your life by finding and keeping the right mindset!