Your Mindset Is Your Key To Success
You watch the videos, read the articles, listen to the podcasts, buy the exercise clothes, and set the fitness goals. But try as you might, something keeps sabotaging your best intentions to exercise regularly. You convince yourself that you just don’t have the time because of a list of legitimate obligations and responsibilities. Or you berate yourself, “Why bother? I’ve tried to get fit before but it never works or lasts.”
But what if your problem isn’t actually time management, your disdain for sweating, or a lack of willpower?
What if the root of these obstacles is really being caused by your mindset?
What Is A Mindset?
Your mindset is a result of your patterns of thought, your opinions, beliefs, attitude, and mood. It affects the way we think about everything in life and there are two main types of mindsets…
▪︎Fixed Mindset: The personal belief that you’re born with a certain level of ability (or body type) and it cannot be changed. (i.e., Shying away from challenges because of fear of failure and/or self-sabotaging your own efforts.)
▪︎Growth Mindset: The personal belief that you’re in control of your own abilities (and body) and can learn to improve them through personal development and growth. (i.e. Finding challenges exciting and engaging because you know you’ll gain value from the experience.)
Without a growth mindset we don’t exert the required effort, so we remain perpetually stuck. But with a growth mindset, you can break through the rut and achieve your fitness goals, be more productive at work, as well as helping to develop and strengthen your relationships too.
Being fit goes beyond the physical.
You must train your mind to believe that your body can become whatever you want it to be. Yes, putting forth the effort, consistency and commitment are all necessary. But they’re not as effective without maintaining the belief in yourself that you’re capable of anything you put your beautiful mind to!
Strengthen Your Mindset With Neuroplasticity
The good news is you can change your mindset! And neuroplasticity is the game changer that makes it all possible. Like any worthwhile change, shifting your perspective on exercise takes focus and commitment.
Changing your mindset (and your body) is about consistency plus simplicity and it’s backed by science.
Neuroscience shows that our brains continue to develop and change throughout our entire lives. Neuroplasticity is what enables our brains to form new neural pathways that are created from the thoughts you’re thinking and the things you’re doing. So whether it’s positive or negative they become hard-wired into our brains as preconditioned habits of thought and/or beliefs. And fortunately, you can change them!
The first step is to realize that developing a growth mindset is one of the most important things you can do to help you achieve success in all areas of your life. And changing your perspective from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset can be easier than you think. By taking small steps in the right direction, anyone can build and strengthen a growth mindset.
Here’s how…
1. Acknowledge & Appreciate Your Strengths & Your Weaknesses
Our differences are the spices that make us all uniquely beautiful! Everyone has imperfections and weirdness and your self-imposed, so-called, “weaknesses” are usually your greatest teachers. They highlight where growth is needed and where you have potential to evolve. Embrace them, for they are the path to self-improvement and a healthier, stronger, and more empowered you. So, celebrate them both, for they are the yin and yang of your unlimited potential.
2. Overcome Your Fears & Face Your Challenges Bravely.
If you find yourself feeling afraid or nervous in the face of a challenge, stop and shift your perception of the fearful feeling to excitement and enthusiasm. Each opportunity invites you into a new experience or adventure. And as with adventures, fear is an understandable feeling, but you press forward anyway because it’s new and exciting!
Fear and anxiety are a big part of a fixed mindset. It’s the fear of feeling embarrassed or feeling like a failure is what keeps us perpetually stuck. If you can address the fears inside yourself, you’ll learn how to cope, process, and change them. If you take this same attitude with starting your fitness journey, or a new exercise routine, you’ll discover abilities you didn’t even know you possessed.
3. Fix Negative Self-Talk.
Censor yourself. Pay more attention to the words you speak and the thoughts you think and listen for the ‘fixed mindset voice’. When you hear that critical voice in your head, you’re disrespecting yourself and lowering your standards so the outcome of your decisions and their consequences will reflect that. Replace judgment with acceptance and compassion and you’ll strengthen your growth mindset.
4. Stop Seeking Approval From Others.
Needing approval from others often prevents a growth mindset. Practice self-acceptance and self-love with daily self-care activities. Learn to trust yourself because YOU are the only one in your life who will always be there for you. Try not to take yourself so seriously and don’t be afraid to make mistakes or look silly in front of others. It happens to absolutely everyone and besides, what other people are thinking is none of your business anyway! 😘
5. Be Authentically You.
Amidst the ever-changing trends in life, your authentic self will always be timeless. So remember to take the time to nurture, embrace and reconnect with the truest version of you. Because if you’re pretending to be someone else, it disrespects who you really are. It makes you seem fake and diminishes your integrity. Becoming genuinely authentic is a process that takes time and inner work. But once you do, you’ll be more driven to pursue your goals which will help strengthen your growth mindset.
6. Live With Purpose.
A purpose-driven life has more meaning and intentionality and is a cornerstone for developing a growth mindset. Define what your passion and your purpose entails. Having a plan and a clear sense of purpose provides a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It gives more significance to your daily actions and choices. Incorporating purpose into your life can start with small, intentional steps that align with your values and passions. Living with purpose leads to a more meaningful and rewarding life with greater resilience and enhanced motivation to succeed.
7. Learn From the Mistakes of Others.
By learning from the mistakes of others, it enables you to make fewer mistakes of your own. Remember that success leaves clues so it’s important to learn from someone else who successfully achieved what you desire. This helps calm the fear of trying new things which is a key aspect of building a growth mindset.
8. Shift Your Perspective of Criticism To Constructive Feedback
At times, there can be some form of value found in critical feedback. So if you can shift your perception of criticism to constructive feedback, you’ll learn to appreciate other people’s opinions because of what you can potentially learn from them. People often see things from different perspectives so it could potentially be a valuable suggestion. If you’re open to hearing these suggestions as constructive vs destructive, you’ll strengthen your growth mindset.
9. Value the Process And Not Just the End Result.
When you have a growth mindset, the end result is less of a focus. Remind yourself that it’s the journey along the way, not just the destination. So be mindful, stay present, and appreciate every step/rep of the way! Even if it’s a little bit every day – no matter how long it takes. When struggling with a something, remind yourself that it’s OK if you haven’t mastered it yet. Stick with it and over time, practice and experience will ultimately lead to improvement.
10. Have Faith in Yourself.
Faith is a state of mind which must be cultivated and practiced in order to maintain. It’s your awareness and belief in yourself that’s the real key to achieving lasting success. Therefore, Faith needs to be active and not passive. It’s your unwavering, applied faith that strengthens your personal belief system as well as your growth mindset
It’s Time To Grow Above & Beyond Your Self-Imposed Limitations
Having a growth mindset will help you gain momentum and resiliency along your fitness journey so you’re no longer allowing self-imposed limitations to block your success. You’re strengthening and remolding your mind which is incredibly empowering!
Research proves that people with a growth mindset are more likely to achieve their fitness goals successfully. Understanding this powerful mind-body connection is like unlocking an incredible secret to enhancing your desired results!
So value strengthening your growth mindset and take the time to develop it. It’s one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself!
