A Growth Mindset Works

It is so easy to get stuck in our own wicked ways, irrational thoughts or preconceived notions about how life is supposed to be.  If we never question what we're thinking, we might not be limiting ourselves.  Let's consider replacing a "fixed mindset" with a "growth mindset."  An example of a fixed mindset is one where there are absolutes like--"I always gain weight at holiday time."  While it may be true that in the past, weight gain was part of holiday time, that does not mean it has to happen this holiday season.  This can be somewhat counterintuitive.  In a lot of cases, past performance is a strong indicator of future success.  NOT SO when it comes to self improvement.  It does not matter how often we attempt behavior change and miss the mark, that does not mean we won't hit the target this time. 

A growth mindset is open to possibilities.  It is grounded in perspective and a positive outlook.  An example of this might sound like--"I have gained weight at holiday time in the past, but this year I am going to set myself up for success so that doesn't happen."  By shifting the mindset to this kind of thinking, we are retraining the brain.  We move away from all or nothing thinking.  We leave behind our previous experiences that didn't work for us anyway, and we are opening ourselves up to something good--something we want:  a new outcome.

This is not to suggest that if I think positive thoughts, I will get whatever I want like a winning lottery ticket.  That's magical thinking.  This is to remind us that we have control over our thoughts.  We can choose to focus on positive ones, helpful ones, reflective ones.  We can choose to silence negative thoughts that remind us of previous mistakes.  By thinking positive thoughts, we feel better.  We are grounded in reality.  We then set our actions up for success too.  If I don't want to gain weight at holiday time, I am booking my workouts, staying out of the kitchen at night, drinking one cocktail not two, restricting baking, etc. 

We all have lived in our own heads for so long.  It is so tempting to think that our thoughts are reality, but they don't have to be.  We can rewrite our own success story by thinking of how we'd like it to go.  The sky is the limit when it comes to getting what we really want.  Yes, it is work that takes effort, but the rewards are so worthwhile.  This work is making our very precious dreams come true.