It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but ourselves. - Shakespeare
How do you cultivate a mindset that allows you to achieve success, health, and happiness?
Change your mindset, change your life. We hear this all the time because it is easy to say it but not as easy to accomplish. However, it is possible and that’s all we need to know. With this knowledge we can get to work, as Shakespeare reminds us, we hold our destiny.
In this article we are going to learn about different types of mindsets and their impact over our lives.
Let’s define Mindset: Mindset is defined as the set of attitudes, behaviors and beliefs we hold. Our mindset affects everything we do, feel, think, and experience. That's why it is important to be aware of the mindsets we currently have and then take initiatives to develop the mindsets we need to reach our goals, enjoy our lives and be successful, healthy, and happy.
I believe our thoughts are incredibly powerful over our lives and the way we feel and react is a reflection of how we think. Over the years, I’ve developed a set of skills to make sure I cultivate the right mindset. It all begins with the belief that I can do it, imagining all that I want to do instead of letting limiting beliefs dictate my success. After all, there are no failures in life, just lessons. So the more we “fail” the more we learn and the closer we get to achieving the best in life. As a lifelong learner and educator I live an intentional life always looking forward to learning and doing that which makes me happy. And then share it with the world so that together we can make the world a better place.
Let’s now read over these mindsets and see which one is you:
Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset
Positive Mindset
Mindful Mindset
Abundance Mindset
Social Mindset
Gratitude Mindset
Confident Mindset
Fitness Mindset
These mindsets exist on a continuum from 0% to 100%. And the good thing is that they are changeable. So you can become invincible and unstoppable by understanding where you are on the continuum of which mindset and then change it with hard work, persistence and belief. For example, if you are between a fixed and growth mindset, find out what you need to change and do to cultivate a growth mindset.
Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that we can develop our skills and abilities through hard work. That's the mindset we want. Therefore, anyone can develop a growth mindset if they are willing to work hard. The research on this mindset is vast and it has been linked to success in a variety of life domains. One way to learn about how to cultivate a growth mindset is to read a bit about neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to change and grow. When we believe that we can in fact get better with effort and hard work we will more likely commit to improving our lives and become unstoppable.
Here’s how Dweck (2015) defines both, growth and fixed mindsets:
The everyday learner symbolizes a Growth Mindset.
“In a Growth Mindset, people understand that their
talents and abilities can be developed through effort and persistence.
They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein,
but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.”
The everyday expert symbolizes a Fixed Mindset.
“In a Fixed Mindset people believe their basic abilities, their intelligence,
their talents are fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that,
and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb.” (Dweck, 2015)
I wrote about fixed and growth mindsets and neuroplasticity in my book, Why Not You? How to Become an Empowered Woman. Here’s a simple exercise for you. Take a look below. On the left is a list of traits or qualities that a person with a fixed mindset may have. On the right, is a list of traits or qualities a person with a growth mindset may have. Determine which phrase best fits you, and place a checkmark (✔) next to it. Tally it up at the end to see how you score and then define your mindset.
Fixed Mindset Growth Mindset
I avoid taking risks Or I embrace challenges.
I tend to give up easily Or I show persistence.
I believe intelligence is fixed at birth Or I believe intelligence is constantly developing.
I am often intimidated by others’ success Or I am inspired by others’ success.
I often say, “I can’t do this” Or I say, “I have to work harder.”
I avoid new things Or I actively seek new opportunities.
I doubt that it is possible to fulfill my dreams Or I know I can succeed.
Total_______
Your Mindset is ________________
Your Mindset Goal:___________
Positive Mindset
A positive mindset is the tendency to be intentional and focused on the good things in life. People with a positive mindset are grateful, optimistic and expect the best out of what happens in life. We can develop a positive mindset by practicing mindfulness meditation, visualization and affirmations.
Think about it, why would you spend time and energy being negative or thinking negative thoughts? Usually, nothing positive comes out of a negative attitude. So, cultivate a positive mindset by being intentional about it.
Mindful Mindset
As a mindfulness meditation practitioner and teacher I can say that this is a life changer. Mindful mindset is about being aware, open to new ways of thinking, and being non-judgemental. We make an effort to be present, to pay attention to our thoughts and emotions and to try to understand them.
Abundance Mindset
An abundance mindset is the belief that there are enough resources in the world for everyone to use and share. There is nothing to be afraid of. You feel secure and confident in your life. Don’t waste energy worrying about other people or events.
Social Mindset
Social mindset people seek new connections and opportunities to meet and interact with people. They enjoy new cultures and exploring new experiences and making new friends. As a result, they have a rich social life, increased opportunities, and they are happier.
Gratitude Mindset
If we focus on what we don’t have we'll never be happy and fulfilled. The reality is that many people in the world right now would love to have your life, to have what you have. If we train to be grateful every day and not take anything for granted then we will begin to feel happier and at ease with who we are and where we are in life. A gratitude journal is a good start to feel grateful.
Confident Mindset
We need the confidence mindset to live our lives to the fullest. How we think about and see ourselves, and our potential, is imperative to our success, health and happiness. The good thing is that confidence is a skill that we can all learn.
Fitness & Health Mindset
Fitness mindset looks at life as a journey. They believe in having a lifestyle not diets. They prioritize their health and fitness, and develop a consistent routine and self-discipline. People with this mindset celebrate small successes and believe that either they win or learn - there are no failures in life, just lessons. Fitness mindset people understand that habits, good or bad, play an important role in the quality of their lives. To change bad habits takes time, which is why fitness-minded people believe that life is a journey not a destination.
These are some of the mindsets people have.
Which one do you have?
If we look at life as a journey then each day is full of opportunities or challenges to do and become better and to experience more joy in our lives. So take another look at these mindsets, analyze them, decide which one you need to work on and make up your mind that going forward you will cultivate the mindsets that give happiness, health, success and joy.