What if you could build just a few small habits that would change your life for the better?
What if any goal were achievable?
What if someone told you it was possible to live your dreams? Would you start today?
The truth is you can do all of this, and it all comes down to feeding your growth mindset.
Unlike a fixed mindset, a growth mindset enables you to start living your dreams by taking away the limitations you put on your own abilities. Usually, it is the obstacles we create ourselves that sabotage our walk towards that vision.
Here’s where it starts:
Remember that Failure Means knowledge is calling you towards a new beginning.
You don’t simply get up in the morning, run a 1,500-meter race, and win Olympic gold. If you did that, failure would be almost certain. So why even set yourself up for that kind of failure. In other words, take small, achievable steps towards your goals. Your vision will be accomplished one step at a time.
Just the same, there are going to be times when you fall short. You’ll find yourself out of breath in the proverbial race—or even suffer an injury. No matter if that injury is physical, emotional, or logical. That doesn’t mean you’re out of the game. Get up; try again; run another race. It's in practice and learning from the obstacles that you gain strength. Setbacks are not there to truly set you back; they are there as a way to let them inspire you to turn your weaknesses into strengths.
Take Pride in the Little Victories
The way you think about your achievements is indicative of how you see yourself. Prideful people boast about things that aren’t really worth boasting about. But being proud of something you’ve achieved because of commitment, dedication, and perseverance is a sign that you're committed to becoming a better you and that understand and acknowledge the energy you’ve invested in the process of creating your vision.
There’s a flip(see what I did there) side, too: Don’t wait for praise from others. If you’ve just completed a task or a challenge that you’ve set for yourself, why do you need anybody else to tell you you’re a success? Most people are stuck in their own minds to be worried about what's going on in yours. Be proud of your own accomplishments.
Embrace Challenge
Life is full of challenges. Whether you’re trying to get up early on a Monday morning or learning a new skill or hobby, challenges are part of life. Instead of shying away from them for fear of failure, why not embrace them and prove to yourself you can achieve positive results? There are benefits to either achieving or falling short; if you achieve, you affirm a specific skill, and if you fail, you know what you can work on to improve.
Carol Dweck, a leader in the field of growth mindsets, asked a group of individuals with fixed and growth mindsets a collection of complex questions. Their brain activity was then studied as they were told whether the questions were right or wrong. The study showed that fixed mindset individuals were only interested in their right answers while growth mindset individuals were eager to learn from wrong answers.
This implies that it doesn’t matter if individuals with a growth mindset get things right or wrong; they simply want to give all challenges a go and learn from their mistakes.
A quote I use often is "Embrace the grind" When you can embrace the journey that your vision will take you on, no matter the good or bad, you will accept it and keep moving onward.
Your Words Really Matter
The importance of how you speak to yourself and the people around can’t be stressed enough. Whether you’re talking to your best friend, your mom, or a complete stranger, choosing your words is critical to developing positive relationships. And those relationships will ultimately open doors to new opportunities and experiences.
One of the best ways to practice your speaking is through listening, reading, and writing. Use websites such as the State of Writing from Grammarly to enhance your writing skills, your vocabulary, and your overall articulation. Listen to podcasts that are technical in a subject you're interested in. Weave some of these lessons you learn from these sources into your daily speech.
Remember That YOU Control You! At the end of the day, your attitudes, your beliefs, and your perceptions all depend on YOU.
Every decision you have ever made comes from how you interpret your experiences inside your head—from a casual “I love you,” to decisions that impact your whole life, like starting a new business or buying a house.
With each one, it’s important to remember that only YOU have the power to control your life’s direction.
If you feel like your mind is muddy, try meditating or taking some time to clear your head. Remember what’s important, and go after the challenges that will make you a better, happier person.
Track Of The Day - Make It Mine - Jason Mraz
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