Let’s do some spring cleaning, but for our minds. It’s clear that our thoughts are connected to our actions. How we think about ourselves, others and the world around us dictate how we treat ourselves, others and the world around us. The first steps in practicing a healthy mindset is to focus on our minds. How can we practice a healthy mindset?
- Be still, if only for a moment. Life in the fast lane seems to dominate the multiple roles that we have to play: mother, wife, sister, executive, and friend. We are in the mentality that it’s always “go time.” Time doesn’t stop so why should we? The erroneous thinking about stopping time as the only way to regroup in our mind is what leads us to be exhausted. Most of the time we do things that seem automatic. What if we just took a moment to just breathe and soak in the present moment before we act on something. Not stop, but just pause. If only for a moment, we take a quick minute or two to delay our actions, we can buy ourselves some time to make wiser decisions.
- Counter your negativity. Do some self-talk when you’re putting yourself down. Self-doubt tends to fill our minds, and we never take that leap of faith. We sometimes talk ourselves down from taking initiative whether they are fueled by our own insecurities about what we can’t do. The self-talk can be as simple as countering your negativity with some positivity. For every negative thought that you have about yourself, think of something positive about yourself. Balancing the scales can help tremendously.
- Search for the root cause. Asking why you got to this point or figuring out why you’re motivated is fundamental in creating a longer-lasting drive. So, you ask the question, “Why?” Why am I doing this? Why do I care? There is an inner voice that is shaped by our life experiences. Grab a hold of that and use it to your advantage. Whatever that thing is that sustains your drive to do the things that you do in life will help propel you further. You just have to keep that in mind to help motivate you when you need the reminder.
- Put in the effort. Nothing is fixed. You are not doomed to fail. One of my favorite researchers is Carol Dweck, whose seminal work in fixed versus growth mindsets guides us in being better people. It helps us to understand how we can think about life more malleable. If it can be changed, then there is still hope. However, if we think things are fixed, we tend to give up because we think we have no control over our lives. We give up on our own critical role as the driver in our life. If we operate under a fixed mindset, we are letting go so much of the power and agency we actually have in creating and shaping our lives. So, take control of your life.
- Think about your thinking. Have you thought about what you thought about? It’s like some Matrix-type thing, isn’t it? Metacognition isn’t something everyone wakes up to do in the morning like it’s a piece of cake. It’s a constant practice of minding your mind. When you’re thinking about what you’re thinking, you’re catching yourself in the process of a thought that can influence your entire mindset. If you practice metacognition, it will ultimately lead to a deeper self-reflection and self-awareness.