“Happiness has to do with your mindset, not with outside circumstance.”
– Steve Maraboli
So much of what we do and achieve in this life begins with one thing: our mindset. That’s right, your mindset truly is the cornerstone of growth and success, or in some cases, the lack thereof.
The power behind cultivating a growth-focused and positive mindset is widely discussed these days. There are books, podcast episodes, TED talks, and more all devoted to this topic, and, in my opinion, with good reason.
Unlike other “trendy” topics that will come and go with time, the power your mindset has to influence your actions in impactful ways is something that will always be true and worth talking about.
So let’s dig in!
But first, let me give you a little bit of context. Last week, I shared a blog post all about the universal need for transformation! To give you a very brief summary, growth and change are something we all need.
(If you didn’t have a chance to read this blog post, I encourage you to check it out, as it informs the rest of this discussion on mindset.)
The first step towards any real or lasting change is adjusting your mindset.
Here’s why:
Growth and change will always require hard work. Period. It doesn’t matter how good the changes you are pursuing are, or how much you want them, all growth will involve some level of sacrifice, endurance, and struggle.
- Growing a business? Hard work, choices, and perseverance.
- Pursuing better health? Hard work, choices, and perseverance.
- Working on your marriage? Hard work, choices, and perseverance.
- Changing your daily habits? Hard work, choices, and perseverance.
See what I mean?
Now, let’s be clear, just because growth is hard (just consider the caterpillar in the dark with no promise she’ll have wings when she emerges), doesn’t mean it isn’t 100% worth it! It simply means that you need to start with the right mindset or you will likely give up when “the going gets tough.”
So…what is the “right mindset” for transformation? Here are a few critical mindset shifts we all need to make in order to achieve real growth:
- Believe that growth and progress are possible and attainable.
Research tells us that individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to “embrace challenges and put in effort” than those with a fixed mindset. It’s a simple, yet powerful concept. How can you expect transformation if you don’t truly believe the change you seek is possible?
- View challenges as opportunities.
Every obstacle offers a lesson if we choose to see things that way. There is always something you can learn from your setbacks, failures, and challenges. Choose to view the hard moments as opportunities to learn and grow for the future. The truth is, failure is part of every journey – learn from it and move on
- Small progress is STILL progress.
It’s normal to desire big results when you begin pursuing a goal. The reality is, however, transformation (usually) isn’t an overnight process. It takes time. Small steps forward toward a bigger goal. Don’t forget to celebrate the little steps you take each day and embrace every ounce of progress you make.
Have you checked your mindset recently? (Even if you’ve done mindset work before, we all need to reevaluate from time to time.) Does your mindset match the transformation you’re hoping to achieve? If not, ask yourself why.
Looking to learn more? Check out the Assess for Success: Applying Strengths In The Workplace session with Teri Johnson. In this learning session, Teri shows how using knowledge of your strengths and mindset can help you to create real change in the workplace.
RESOURCES:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836039/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/201911/how-upgrade-your-mindset-succeed-in-life
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
