What You Think Matters!

What Is Mindset?

Mindsets are beliefsbeliefs about yourself and your most basic qualities.  What one thinks, about self, the world around us as well what we fear and what we value impacts how we behave and accordingly the results we get.  Check out this pictorial:

 

Actions and results are underpinned by our mindset; beliefs drive action.

Notice that there is a gigantic mass below the surface, indiscernible to the passive onlooker who only sees behaviors and results. What drives actions and results are the values, beliefs, fears, level of self-esteem, and memories of past experiences.  These formulate our mindset.  They also influence what we say and do and the results we get.  Do the results you get make you happy and satisfied?  If not, maybe it is your mind set you need to change!!

Do you want to behave differently or achieve a different result?  Then it is below the surface to mindset we must go.  Perhaps fear is preventing forward movement.  Do we deep down believe that we actually cannot do that which we want?  Do we somehow believe we are not worthy of what we want to achieve?  It is not enough to just change actions to get new results.  It is also important to bring to light our mindset and change up our mindset to drive change.

The impact of our mindset is enormous.  I would venture to guess that whether we succeed or fail, comes down, to a fairly large extent, what we believe is possible. In fact, the likely biggest challenge to achieving goals and creating more health, happiness and success is our own beliefs concerning what is possible. 

Are Human Qualities Cultivated or Carved in Stone?

 New findings in Neuro-biology now confirm that neurons continue to grow throughout our lifetime.  The notion that our brains are as big as they can get by the time we are teenagers is passé! In fact, there is there is such a thing as BDNF (brain-derived neurotropic factor), which the heart produces when it pumps for at least 15 minutes from aerobic exercise!  So, our brains can grow and develop, which means that people can continue to grow and develop throughout their life-time. So first, believe that change and growth is possible! 

Coaching Conversations and Shifting a Mindset

When working with a coach and you find yourself stuck, seemingly unable to achieve the goals you have set for yourself,  your coach will likely delve below the surface.  If it is a fear you are dealing with, a coach may ask: “How have you dealt with fear in the past?” or “What are you afraid of now?” 

When working on a goal and not making progress it is possible that a limiting belief is at play?  Good questions for this might include: “What do you think might be getting in the way?” or “What hidden rules (or limiting beliefs) do you think you have that could be stopping you from making the progress you desire?” or “Let’s imagine that it’s something else getting in the way, what do you suppose it might be?” or “What is your inner critic or Gremlin saying?”

The Power of Questions

Questions, asked with genuine curiosity, can create expansiveness and shifts in thinking. These kinds of questions can shift us into being learners.  Are you a learner or a  judger, as Dr. Marilee Adams would put it. 

Here are some of her questions which Dr. Adams calls learner questions:

·         What happened? 

·         What do I want (for myself and others)? 

·         What can I learn?  What assumptions am I making?

·         Am I being responsible?

·         What’s possible?

·         What are my choices?

·         What’s best to do now?

·         What do I expect of me?

What you think, what questions you ask of yourself and others and the beliefs you hold about your own basic qualities does matter.  Your mindset matters!  What is yours?  If you do not like it, change it.  Work with me and you can self-assess your mindset and decide to change it.