5 Ways to Build a Positive Mindset

We hear it all the time.  I say it all the time.  "Shift your mindset".  The way you choose to perceive experiences in your life determines your success, joy and expansion in your life.  

To better understand this concept, let us look at the fundamentals.  Mindset is how you choose to approach any situation. When you have an open and positive mindset, you are able to see the possibilities in any situation. When you go in with a closed or negative mindset, you are severely limiting your experience to the most negative aspects of any given situation.

So, all we have to do is have a positive mindset?  Easy right?  How about easier said than done.  

For decades we have been conditioned to more of a negative mindset for multiple reasons that include generational patterns that our family engrained in us to 'protect us'.  Societal beliefs that create fear and division through news and other forms of media. The fact that we are hardwired to focus more on the negative aspects in life for survival.  We also have chemicals that are naturally released in our brain, which is cortisol.  This chemical releases to warn you about imminent danger.  It is our built in alarm system.  

So what are some tried and true ways to develop a positive mindset? Here are a few tips you can use immediately to begin to shift from a negative to a positive mindset: 

1. Increase awareness.  First you need to develop insight into why you are in a negative mindset.  What thoughts do you have when you judge something as "bad" rather than "neutral" or "good".  Where did these judgments and beliefs come from? It's helpful to get curious about your mindset.  
2. Meditate.  Meditation helps you with overthinking by helping you slow down your thinking.  Meditation helps you to stop resisting your thoughts so that emotions naturally become less prevalent. The goal is to watch the mind in action, without using force, and ease it into the present moment. 
3. Gratitude.  The attitude of gratitude is such a powerful tool in shifting mindsets.  Keeping a gratitude journal boosted reported long-term well-being by 10%, which was the same increase as doubling your income!  Gratitude also increases our optimism.  Optimism in turn makes us happier, improves our health, and has been shown to increase lifespan by as much as a few years.
4. Affirmations.  Positive and motivational self talk helps to keep the positivity high.  Since you have increased your awareness to your negative thought in Step 1, it is time to choose which negative thought to focus your attention.  Choose a negative thought to challenge.  And don't only challenge it with using the opposite statement, you want to make it more personalized.  For instance, if your negative thought is "I always make mistakes", instead of stating "I don't make mistakes", you would choose the statement "I am capable and experienced".  And you always want to start the statement with the present tense of "I am".  
5. Birds of a feather.  Take a good look at who you are surrounding yourself with.  Who are those people who you have to either distance yourself from or cut out completely?  Are there any toxic people it is time to release?  And when you release these individuals, who are you choosing to spend your time with?  Be sure to engage with others who are likeminded with a growth mindset.  

So now that you know what you have to do, are you ready to do it?  By choosing this path, it might mean letting go of people that are weighing you down.  It means challenging thoughts and beliefs you have had for decades.  It means embracing a new way of thinking and living.  

Are you willing to step outside your comfort zone and into the unknown of endless possibilities?  To learn more about building and enhancing your positive mindset, but sure to check out the private Facebook group Next Level Life Purpose for Professional Women. 

Sending much love and light, LJ