What is mindset - A mindset is a set of beliefs that shape the way we experience reality. It influences how we think, feel, and act in a particular situation.
How do we acquire our mindset - Children from 0 to 7 years old come with a clean slate and no past experiences or programming so the subconscious mind of a child 7 and under is highly active. It is like a massive hard drive that is always recording what it observes from it's surroundings free of analytical thinking (that comes later on in life). After the age of 7, the conscious mind of a child becomes more active as they start to make decisions. When children enter kindergarten, they come with a set of preconditioned beliefs that are not their own but their parents, teachers, and friends. Later in life you realize that some of these lessons you adopted as a child might not serve you a greater purpose in your own life today. As you start determining who you want to be, you start pulling away the layers and saying that's not me, and connecting to the truth with in you.
In many ways, our immediate family and culture determine our thoughts and the type of choices we make in the future. Some family and cultural traditions can be of a fixed mindset which gets passed down to the younger generations. They are a set of predetermined choices, but what if we have dreams that don't fit our predetermined choices?
How do we change our own mindset - There are two types of mindsets. There is a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
A fixed mindset is where we have certain traits and beliefs that are not changeable.
A growth mindset is the ability to learn new things and be open to change.
Recognizing a fixed mindset - If we want to change things in our life, it is important to become mindful of whether or not we are operating in a fixed or a growth mindset. Change requires awareness. So where do we place our awareness? There is a voice in our head that is constantly talking to us. It is our inner voice. Everyone has it but not everyone listens to it. It is that voice that goes unnoticed because we pursue busy lifestyles unable to sit still and reflect on the talk that goes on inside of our heads. It's important to hear the words that you say to yourself. Recognizing negative self talk that comes from a fixed mindset is the first step to influencing your life in a positive way. This will allow growth and expansion to occur.
Positive affirmations to create positive changes - Our thoughts affect behavior and the way we interpret thoughts affect the way we experience life. By directing attention inside, we become more aware of the language we are using in our own heads. When we don't like what we experience, we can change it by taking control of our thoughts and emotions rather than letting things passively happen to us. The power of positive affirmations can create an immediate positive influence in our lives.
Positive affirmations are direct statements to the self. For example, "I am deserving". These statements can be internalized or vocalized. Saying positive affirmations out loud are more powerful than internalizing them because hearing your own thoughts can be stronger than thinking your own thoughts. Thinking can be sublime whereas vocalizing it is like you becoming your own witness to what you are thinking. Vocalizing your positive affirmations allows you to express who you wish to be openly with conviction through the tone of your voice. Your tone will make it more believable. This will create an energy shift that will release feel good hormones so that you are actually feeling the new thought!
We can use powerful language for self-sabotage or we can use powerful language for self-empowerment. The trick is to be mindful of the words we use in our head. The words we speak to ourselves shape our reality.
Below are some tips you can try to help you out on your journey.
Tips for positive affirmations
Find a quiet space
Sit with confident posture as you repeat the affirmations (no slouching)
Take a few deep breaths
Begin your I AM (fill in the blank) of statements you wish to feel
Say it out loud like you mean it (even though you might not be feeling it yet)
Repeat affirmations until you feel the energy of what you are rehearsing out loud
Notice how you begin to think and feel
For best results, practice frequently
A few examples of positive affirmations
I am loveable
I am deserving
I am enough
I am thankful
I am blessed
I am growth
I am smart
I am coachable
I am adaptable
I am abundant
I am resourceful
I am healing
Let me know in the comments below if you've tried positive affirmations before. How does it help you? Or not? I'd love to hear your feedback. Peace & Love!
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