The importance of a positive mindset (part 1)

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try, nothing ever seems to go right? Do you ever feel like throwing in the towel because you’re not where you’d like to be at this stage of your life? Do you ever feel the constant need for validation and to fit in with the ‘standards’ of society? This could be because you are deeply rooted in a negative mindset. We hear phrases involving the word ‘mindset’ being used on a regular basis, but what does it actually mean?

Let’s start with the definition of a mindset. A mindset can be defined as an established set of attitudes held by someone. In our modern world, its easy to get caught up in negative thinking and allow external factors to deeply affect our internal peace. We find ourselves constantly wanting to fit in, but have we ever asked ourselves this very important question? What if we were never meant to fit in, in the first place? What if we were supposed to be completely different? Positive thinking doesn’t mean ignoring the unpleasant situations that life presents, but rather, approaching it in a positive and productive way.

Positive thinking starts with positive self-talk. Remember that when you criticize and judge yourself, that you’re the one that’s listening! When you start practising positive self-talk, you’ll start to see so many things changing. It boosts your self-esteem and confidence and helps you become comfortable in your own skin.

The golden rule with positive self-talk, is not to say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else. You have to treat yourself with the same love and respect as you would other people. You are the most important person in your life, and you have to see yourself in that way. Focus less on the things you cannot control, and more on the things that you can control. You can’t control how those around you behave, but you can control how you react. You cannot control the circumstances or situations around you, but you can control how you choose to deal with them. You cannot control a negative work or school environment, but you can control how you grow and thrive in it. Remember, you are what you think!

We know it takes 21 days to build a new habit and 90 days to build a new lifestyle. But how long does it take for our mind to believe something? The answer is a short 10 seconds! That’s right, only 10 seconds! So if it only takes 10 seconds to tell yourself something positive and mean it, why are we not doing it more often?

It is important that you are able to filter your thoughts. More often than not, we filter in the negative thoughts and reject the positive thoughts. We forget all the compliments we got throughout the day, the work we accomplished and the things that we have learnt, and we focus on the tasks we didn’t complete. By identifying area’s where change is required, we engage in more optimistic and creative thinking. Focusing on one area at a time, creates a chain reaction where positivity will flow into other aspects of your life. It is important to be in touch with your thoughts and you understand why you feel the way that you do and what may have caused it. By constantly being in touch with your feelings, it allows you to take responsibility for your actions and reactions, instead of blaming others for the way we feel.

Life really does revolve around the “mind, body and soul” approach. Having a positive mindset really does impact the rest of your life. By living a healthy lifestyle and nourishing our bodies and souls with things we enjoy and that fuel us, it improves the overall quality of our lives and our mindset. An essential part of a healthy and positive mindset, is the practice of being content. You have to appreciate where you are right now instead of wishing you were at a different stage of your life. When you are fully content, you are able to appreciate your journey and honour your efforts. Start seeing yourself as a priority.

Stay tuned for part 2!!