Has anyone ever told you that you need to change the way you think? The truth is changing your mindset can improve your quality of life. When you’re going through your day, you probably don’t think about how your mindset shapes your life.
Maybe you’ve always looked at certain things this way because that’s just the way you were brought up. Or because of situations you’ve gone through in the past.
The thing is, your mindset does have a lot to do with your life. And if you change the way you think it can make a big impact in improving your life.
What Is Mindset?
You might be asking yourself, really what is mindset? Your mindset forms the thoughts that you have. It shapes the way you think.
And the way you think influences how you act and how you sort out your feelings towards situations in life.
It’s what you believe about your qualities and what you’re capable of doing that determine how you look at things and life in general.
Here’s the thing, your mindset is what decides which views and beliefs you’re ready to accept and what you experience.
If you foster a negative mindset then your thoughts are going to be geared toward blaming others and start to think the worst in any situation.
But when you have positive thoughts you give yourself the right setting to have a sound and healthy atmosphere for you and the people who are around you.
It all comes down to your attitude and your state of mind. It’s what you believe about yourself and sets the stage for your success in your relationships as well as your professional life.
The truth of the matter is you might not be aware, but your mindset plays a critical part in helping you to manage and embrace challenges. Or whether you cave in and call it quits when life gets rough.
Your mindset is the deciding factor in how resilient or persistent you are in life.
These are the things that determine your mindset and give you an indication when it comes to how you see you as a person and the world on a whole.
Your mindset is the factor that will decide your station in life. It will also allow you to put your finger on the pulse of what you can achieve and those things that are outside of your scope.
What are the types of mindset?
We all have different types of mindset. A business type of mindset, fear mindset, or even an abundance mindset is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the different types of mindsets that we tend to have.
But the two main types of mindset are a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. They both have advantages and disadvantages.
Your mindset could also be different when it comes to different aspects of your life.
Discovering what kind of mindset you have is the key to understanding the type of mindset that factors into how you function in every area of your life.
Fixed mindset
When you have a fixed mindset, you usually have a core belief system about a number of things. This includes the level of how smart you are and your uniqueness.
You have a tendency to believe that you were born with a certain amount of abilities or level of personal qualities.
And you believe that these can’t be reshaped and transformed because that’s what you were born with and that’s that.
In that case, you’re always limiting yourself and your main concern is to prove yourself to other people.
Some of the secondary mindsets that extend from a fixed mindset are:
- Fear mindset
- Lazy mindset
- Greed mindset
- Short-term mindset
- Follower mindset
Indications of A Fixed Mindset
Some of the indications that you might have a fixed mindset are, always blaming others for things when they go wrong. Also being self-centered with little or no thought for other people is another sign.
Not only that, when you have a fixed mindset you have limited drive or ambition to achieve because you normally have a lazy habit.
Even though you’re also concerned with what other people have to say you give the impression of being a negative person.
Heres’s the thing if you have a fixed mindset you can become sluggish, lacking the driving force to move forward in life. Not just setting your sights on your goals but putting a plan in place and working towards achieving them.
Some common ways of thinking when you have a fixed mindset involve telling yourself that There’s no point in trying if I’m going to fail. I’m too old; I can’t learn now.
Even stuff like either I’m not good at anything, I can’t lose weight, it’s too hard. I’m always struggling, with… and the list of negatives go on and on.
Growth Mindset
When you have a growth mindset your mental attitude is one that you believe you have the qualities that you can build on overtime. That you can employ strategies and put in the effort to develop them and be successful.
If you have a growth mindset you usually believe that the root abilities and capabilities that you have is the foundation for you to figure out and implement measures to fulfill your full potential.
The growth mindset develops an appetite for learning instead of an ongoing strong need for approval from others.
When you rewire your mindset to that of a growth mindset it makes it possible for you to see all the various avenues that exist and are well within your reach.
A growth mindset also branches off into secondary mindsets categories which can include:
- Business mindset
- Gratitude mindset
- Confident mindset
- Creative mindset
Indications of A Growth Mindset
Some of the things that give you a hint that you have a growth mindset involve your willingness to help others. You’re also excited to learn and committed to learning.
On top of that, you don’t dwell on problems but find solutions to those problems. You’re also inclined to know what you want and you love to think big.
Being willing to change and build new skills in order to achieve growth is also one of your qualities. You also tend to be grateful and embrace challenges.
If you have a growth mindset you always have a positive frame of mind, always looking on the bright side of situations and you’ll be focusing on making progress in your life.
For instance, you’ll tell yourself, You’ll tell yourself things like there are no failures, they are just opportunities to learn and grow. I have the ability to learn anything I want to.
Also, I can become better at anything if I practice consistently. If I am determined and put in the effort I will be successful. Learning and growing is my life’s mission.
Why Mindset Matters
If you’re not sure why your mindset matters or how it will improve your life then there’s no way you’ll know how to go about changing it.
These beliefs whether you’re conscious of them or not they affect your life every. single. day.
Your mindset matters in order for you to grow and succeed in life. Your thought process and beliefs about certain things is looked at from a certain perspective and play out in life in general.
These beliefs more often than not are inflexible in some ways, as you get older.
Something to keep in mind is that if you’re to be successful in the many facets of life, your mindset plays a critical role. If you have a growth mindset you’re most likely to have success.
This is because you’re motivated and accept the fact that time and time again you will need to focus, target, and strive for big and better things.
Take for example, when you’re studying. If you have an open or growth mindset this will definitely put you at an advantage.
You will put in more time and effort and you will no doubt achieve more and learn more.
Your mindset is the drive behind whether you achieve or instead of embracing challenges you sidestep or dismiss them.
It’s how you look at your stumbling blocks and defeats and how you hang in there and keep going and stop at nothing to achieve what you’ve set your mind to.
What kind Of Mindset Do You Have
The kind of mindset you have is what urges you to take specific steps to spring into action or to stop from taking action on anything.
Your mindset causes you to arrive at a decision as to how you see yourself as well as other people.
The many different kinds of mindset can translate different things to each person in terms of how you think and why you think the way you do.
What type of mindset forms your thoughts and actions? Do you think that this is just the way you are and that there’s no way you can change?
Do you believe that you can change the way you think and then things will become different if you do? Here’s the thing, you can change your mindset to one of growth and prosperity.
How Can You Change Your Mindset
How do you know when the time has come to start changing your mindset?
If you’ve been having negative thoughts the same way as far back as you can remember year in year out, then it’s time for a change in your mindset.
Probably you’re focusing on career development, creative activities, or even on matters of a somewhat greater personal level.
Changing your mindset provides the push you need to get up and go to, propelling you forward towards progress instead of being bogged down in one position.
When you change your mindset it also helps you become a better human being. It will help to develop your skill set and helps you build and maintain better relationships.
This will give you a better chance in life by allowing you to become more successful, more creative, and more fulfilled.
Ways That Can Help You Change Your Mindset
Changing your mindset to one of growth is a process but with some practice, determination and being more aware of the way you think you can win.
1. Keep a Score of your wins
If you’re always focusing on defeat instead of winning. You might feel upset and ticked off because of a defeat without even a little celebration for your wins. You might look at yourself as if you’re all your flaws.
Without even realizing it you’re passing on negative communication to your mind that you will fall flat at whatever you try to achieve.
To tackle this and help change your mindset keep a running tally of all your wins, big or small and celebrate them.
2. Let go and forgive and forget
You feel like you have been a target of horrible experiences or being hurt by the people you love.
Or maybe you feel scarred for life from some trauma you have experienced and you’re still holding onto those past hurt.
But to move forward and help to change your mindset it’s important that you give these situations a pink slip – let them go and forgive and forget those who hurt you. That’s the only way you’re going to move forward.
3. Be Grateful for what you have
You look at the appealing and fascinating lifestyle of others on the internet and it makes you ask yourself “what about me, why can’t I have that?”
But don’t believe all the hype because nine out of ten times things are not what they seem- that lifestyle is not real.
You underrate and underestimate yourself. Instead of focusing on the positives in your life and not on what you don’t have.
To change your mindset be grateful instead for what you have. You’ll come to realize that you’re in a better position than a lot of people.
4. Give Back To Society And Touch Lives
Maybe when it’s time to go to your job you feel anxious and have a sense of uneasiness and you’re downright distressed and feel like it’s a weight on your shoulders or a millstone around your neck. In place of that, look at your job from a different perspective.
To help change your mindset See it as you playing your part in the world. You’re showing your worth and giving back some sort of benefit to the society in which you live. And knowing that it will touch the lives of people around you.
Conclusion
If you find that you have a fixed mindset and you genuinely want to change, you can. Of course, it’s a mental process and it takes time but it’s totally doable. When you put in the effort, you’ll benefit by having a more open, growth mindset.
You’ll have the guts to step out of your comfort zone and pursue what you want and have no doubt in your mind that you’ll get it. You’re capable of doing more than you think you can.
What kind of mindset do you have? Do you need to change your mindset?
Love this! I know I have to change some things about my mindset and I’m going to use these tips to do that! Thank you for sharing ??
Hi Alaia,
So happy you found this useful!
wow! great post on why mindset is important!
I especially like the way you’ve explained the different mindsets.
thanks for sharing!
Hey Hari,
I’m happy you found this useful!
Hi! I love this so much! Our mindset is so important and I feel like it’s sometimes put on the back burner. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Kate,
Our mindset is crucial and should not be neglected. Happy to share!