Mindset. The word wasn’t in my vocabulary as a child. I had no idea how important the mind was, or how it worked. Instead, my mind suffered from trauma.
My mind became negative, and self-attacking due to mindsets I didn’t know existed. Yes, mindsets plural.
Now I understand why mindsets are so important.
DEFINING MINDSET
Simply put, a mindset is a succession of thoughts the mind automatically thinks. It’s automatic because the neuropathways or thoughts are set in the mind.
Our mindsets are built when we’re children by how we were raised and the things that happened to us. These thought processes drive our lives bringing about behaviors without our intentional involvement.
Mindsets are why we succeed or fail at things.
Mindsets are why we succeed or fail at things. Share on X
MINDSETS PLURAL
Our minds are busy places and we have multiple subjects to have thoughts about. Money, self-esteem, sex, God, work, entertainment, emotions, and relationships to name a few. We have a mindset relating to every subject in our lives.
Some topics can share the same type of mindset. Others can be vastly different. But whatever the mindset is on a subject, it’s what you believe. Each of them either helps you or holds you back. When they hold you back, they’re called limiting beliefs. When they help you, they’re empowering.
Every mindset you have is subject to what you choose to believe.
Every mindset you have is subject to what you choose to believe. Share on X
WHAT YOU BELIEVE
Mindsets are rooted in your belief system. You may think you know what you believe, but contrary or difficult circumstances will reveal what you truly believe. When life pokes us, what’s inside comes out. This is where you’ll discover your limiting beliefs if you choose to take notice.
Oftentimes we call these situations storms because they shake us up inside. When storms happen, we have a choice. We can allow the limits to stay or we can break through and empower ourselves to grow.
You are in charge of what you believe.
You are in charge of what you believe. Share on X
A COMMON DESTRUCTIVE MINDSET
As I said, we have mindsets plural. This is due to the many topics in our lives. One type of mindset can affect multiple topics. This one common negative mindset is called a poverty mindset.
At first glance, a poverty mindset sounds like it’s about money, and it can be. But it’s so much more. A poverty mindset is a mentality of insufficiency, inadequacy, scarcity, lack, and failure permeating every area of your life. It’s a prevailing attitude of “I can’t” because it has no hope or vision. This mindset will keep you from becoming your true self and accomplishing what you dream. It’s a saboteur.
I suffered a poverty mindset for many years. I saw lack everywhere. I had no comprehension of having enough or being enough. But one thing I had that worked in my favor was the stubbornness to change.
I have good news—you have the power to change your mindsets. I know because I have changed mine. I haven’t arrived, but I’ve made significant progress. The opposite of a poverty mindset is an abundance mindset where you see provision available in every area of your life.
You can turn a poverty mindset into an abundance mindset.
You can turn a poverty mindset into an abundance mindset. Share on X
CHANGING MINDSETS
If that last line triggered something in you, pause, breathe and then read the line again.
Do this because that one sentence is where you need to begin. Take that sentence and write it down on an index card or sticky note. Read it out loud multiple times daily until the trigger is gone. This is the process of changing mindsets.
- Identify the negative mindset and trigger.
- Find words to counter the limiting belief.
- Speak them out loud repetitively—also known as *self-talk.
- Continue until the change occurs—*neuroplasticity takes place.
If that one sentence above didn’t trigger you, discover words that do, and follow the above process.
To build healthy mindsets and replace the negative ones, you need to take ownership of the negative that is there without excuses, and replace it with positive – intentionally.
It will take more work than you know, longer than you want, but because you matter you owe it to yourself to submit to and work through the process.
Building and maintaining healthy mindsets is a life-long process.
LITTLE BY LITTLE
That’s what process is—little by little, one step at a time and never giving up. Not giving up on yourself and your process is important. Remind yourself you’re worth the time and effort. Many baby steps added together turn into a large change.
I’ve done this to change all my mindsets. I’ve gone from victim to victor, from feeling worthless to a growing self-confidence, from self-loathing to self-loving, from unhealthy to healthy, and more. I don’t recognize who I was five years ago and I’m expecting more growth and change because I continue this process daily.
Change is hard and scary. But it’s also exhilarating on the other side of growth. It starts with feeding the knowledge of your value—you matter, and you are loved. We take care of what we love and value.
Little by little you can change how you think and what you accomplish.
ARE YOU READY
You owe it to yourself to become your true self, heal, grow, and live your best life. Are you ready to take a step?
Embrace your value and change negative mindsets into positive ones.
TAKE ACTION
- What negative mindset do you want to change? Let me know in the comments so I can help you.
- Subscribe to my email list and get free tools to change your mindsets in your inbox – HERE.
- Get my book Emerging With Wings and read how I healed from trauma and changed my mindsets. BUY HERE
- Get a copy of The Anomaly Mindset to help you in business. BUY HERE
*I will have more on self-talk and neuroplasticity next week.
Watch this short video (less than 3 minutes) of an object lesson – how little by little works to accomplish a lot.
Click HERE to watch on Facebook.
Another great article! It’s important to note that it is a step-by-step process that doesn’t happen overnight. I like how you said “It will take more work than you know, longer than you want” but it is worth it!
Thank you. I agree that it’s important to note that change takes time.
We can tend to be so impatient with ourselves. But we need to adopt a marathon mindset and give ourselves lots and lots of grace. Giving ourselves grace is an act of self-love that took me quite a long time to learn and develop.
I can’t take credit for that line you like. My business mentor Sandi Krakowski said that in a webinar she did last month. She’s so right.
Thanks for sharing!