We’ve been told that it’s all about our mindset that leads to living a happier life. That sounds great in practice but the “how” tends to get lost in translation.
Most commonly it’s easy for our mind to grab on to three main fears, the fear of judgment, fear of failure and the fear of success. These fears keep us stuck and in a state of discontent. Think of our mindset as a mental muscle that needs to be trained in order to gain strength. Our physical shape doesn’t change by us simply looking at it and expecting something to change, the same goes for our mind.
We must actively work on our mental strength as we would our physical strength in order to grow and improve from where we were yesterday to where we’re going today and beyond. In this article, I’ll provide tangible exercises to help you get unstuck and strengthen the muscles of your mind.
Identify your values
If you’re not sure where to start with identifying your values, think of a meaningful moment, a time where you felt so alive.
For me, this was a birthday that I celebrated with my best friends in Costa Rica. We stripped off all of our clothes and under the midnight moon, we hopped into the salty ocean.
Can you identify what values I was honoring with that experience?
This honors my values and the importance I place on travel. My love for the relationships I have with my best friends and building meaningful, genuine connections. The value I place on celebrating life on this earth and liberation.
Do the same for yourself, journal about a meaningful moment in your life and see what values were being honored at that time.
Adopt an abundance mindset
It’s easy for us to function and to fall prey to a scarcity mindset, that there isn’t enough to go around. In reality, there is plenty to go around for everyone.
For example, when people become coaches, the scarcity mindset says that they are competing with other coaches for clients. When in reality, we will find the clients that match our vibration and the vibes that we are putting out.
Observe your environment
Take a moment to pay attention to who you surround yourself around. Do they constantly put out negative vibes, fall victim to their stories or look at life from a negative perspective?
It’s very easy to look at our world today, see the turmoil and it is hard to see things in a positive light. Instead of seeing the negative, we can ask ourselves, what can we appreciate about our world today? We are more connected than we have ever been and we have the power to make a change as a collective force.
For example, I know that I have been placed on this earth to change the world. I used to be afraid to own that phrase but now it’s engraved deep into my soul. I desire to create a world that I, as well as the next generations that follow, would like to live in.
I know that I am not alone when I say that we desire to create a world of change-makers and we desire to create an impact in the work that we do. We are finally using our words and our voices to stop hiding and we are shaking things up.
One quote that I carry with me is “Nobody ever died from discomfort.”
We’re more willing to speak our truth which gives others permission to do the same. The positive change and impact that we as a collective desire is contagious.
Turn those negatives into positives/let go of old stories
As I had mentioned in step number three above, our beliefs frame how we perceive the world. We can recognize our world being in turmoil or a chance for opportunity to change it.
What if life has no limitations? Recognize that the only limitations we have are the ones that we place on ourselves.
Some examples of stories we tell ourselves –
“All the good men are taken,” or “All men suck.”
“I can’t move up in my industry.”
“I don’t have the money to go after what I want.”
Are any of these beliefs actually true? When you come from a space of empowering beliefs you’ll find that most of these thoughts are just stories that we tell ourselves to keep us safe and comfortable.
Exercise:
– What is something that you have been wanting to do but haven’t?
– What was the lie you told yourself that has stopped you?
– What is one small step you can take today to break free from the lie and go after that thing?
Stop comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle
The only person you need to compare yourself to is who you were yesterday and how you can create more for yourself today. In this day and age, comparison is inevitable and all we hear to combat the feeling is “stop comparing.”
Again, that’s great in theory, but how does one stop with the comparisons?
It’s a work in progress.
Comparison is similar to the scarcity mindset, so next time we find ourselves comparing, instead ask yourself, what can you learn or gain from that person?
Does this person you’re comparing yourself to add value or decay to your life? If they add value, then slurp up that good juju and learn from them. What are they doing right and how can you incorporate that into your life?
Another way to look at this, think of it like you’re swimming in a race, you focus on staying in your own lane, right? The moment you look away and try to see where your opponent is in the moment that you lose focus and sight of the present moment.
Every single person that has ever started anything had to start from the beginning.
Wherever you are in your journey, focus on creating and outdoing yourself, every. single. day. Keep moving forward and take time to breathe.
You are exactly where you are meant to be. You are worthy of living an incredible life.
Repeat after me:
Today is going to be an extraordinary day.
I am honoring myself. I spread joy. I spread good vibes.
I radiate love. I am shining my light. I am enough.
