The mind is where a person’s destiny is determined. As Napoleon Hill once stated, “whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve.” Consequently, our beliefs about ourselves and the world around us are all powerful. In fact, our outlook will eventually determine how we live and what we can achieve. Such is the power of the mindset. Here is an in-depth look into the importance of mindset and the ways it can be used to bolster success and happiness.
What Is Mindset?
Our mindset is a collection of deeply rooted:
- beliefs,
- assumptions, and
- attitudes
This outlook on life essentially forms the fundamental framework of a person’s behaviour and perspective. Generally speaking, we develop our mindset based on our experiences.
For example, people who see examples of the wealthy being greedy might believe that being rich is evil. Consequently, they will shy away from opportunities to make money. The person who thinks being wealthy earns you freedom from oppression, on the other hand, might think differently. It’s likely they will create and grasp opportunities to build wealth.
Studies show that if two people with these two different mindsets on wealth were put together with the same opportunities, the person with a negative mindset on riches would remain broke. This illustrates the impact of mindset on our life’s destiny. So, the importance of mindset can’t be underestimated.
How the Mindset Works
It is so much easier to appreciate the power and importance of the mindset if we understand how it works. Here are some ways that beliefs and assumptions can work for or against a person’s success in any area of life
Shapes Everyday Life
We draw our conclusions on life from our personal experiences. Then, after this, the mindset we develop shows up as our personality. Our thoughts, words, and actions stem from this mindset we develop. As a result, our daily life becomes simply a reflection of our inner programming.
Creates a Shared World
Have you ever noticed that you always find people with whom you share the same mindset on specific issues? Relating with people with the same mindset as yours will strengthen your beliefs and makes it easy to act on them. This type of connection leads to communities, movements and events. Wildlife carers and animal activists share similar views and mindset. So too, do governments who enact genocide on their own countrymen. And examples abound of everything in between.
Creates Blind Spots
Developing a particular mindset does not require the entire facts about a situation. This is especially so, given the short time in which we generally create them. As a result, we are always viewing the world through a filter of incomplete information or facts. An example of this is the belief that the world is a dangerous place, and someone is laying in wait to murder people. Imagine a young girl, travelling in a car with her mother and aunt. The aunt, a ‘worrier’, commenting as they drive by a garbage bag by the side of the road: “There could be a body in that bag.” I was the little girl and I spent the next several years sleeping, in terror, with my head under the sheets! In fact, my world was incredibly safe and loving. So, never underestimate the importance of mindset being a healthy one!
The Three Basic Types of Mind-Sets
Mindsets tend to fall into three broad categories. They reflect a person’s perspective on learning and leadership. It is worth noting that a person might have one mindset on a particular aspect of life, and a different mindset on another. Just to make things interesting!
A Fixed Mindset
People in this category believe that their abilities, talents, and intelligence are settled on stone. Their assumption is that everyone else’s are set in stone as well! They may also consider that everyone else thinks the same as they do – or should think the same as they do.
A Growth Mindset
Those with this mindset understand that through effort and persistence, they can improve their abilities and talents. A growth mindset does not seek perfection but constant improvement. It is about always learning ways to improve life and performance in whatever they do.
A Benefit Mindset
This is the most expansive and transcending form of mindset. People with this type mindset not only seek to do their best but also do so in a manner that improves the well-being of others and society. They question the “why” of every action believing that the reason transcends the how. It is fair to say that transformational leaders exhibit characteristics of this type of mindset. When we say ‘leaders’ here, we can be referring to a leader of an organisation, a country. Or, that amazing mindset coach who conducts business well into his mature years to develop others to the best version of themselves. This type of leader leaves a legacy.
Can a Mindset be Changed?
The importance of mindset is that it affects all areas of our lives – and the lives of those around us. This roll-on effect makes it highly desirable to change any damaging and counter-productive programming. Programming may also be referred to as attitudes. Fortunately, studies have shown that it is possible to change our mindsets. If this interests you, here are some the ideas to start you off:
- Analyse the effects of your mindset. One way to see this is to check the results in your life. Do you see repetitive patterns? Do you make money, then lose it? Or, do you keep attracting the same type of person in a relationship? Are you always falling ill on holidays? Certain poor outcomes are often the result of a negative mindset. Equally so, excellent outcomes are the result of a healthy mindset! Your friends are always nice to you, because you believe you have awesome friends!
- Listen to others: If your friends say to you “you’re so stuck in your ways!”, or “try something different” then you probably do.
- Question foundations of your beliefs: Are your assumptions and attitudes based on a universal truth? Or are your opinions formed based on an isolated experience? Could someone else think the opposite from you? For example, “rainy days are bad days”. This isn’t really the case. Rainy days are rainy days. And farmers tend to love rainy days! Because an expensive pair of shoes were once ruined because you were caught in a downpour, doesn’t make rain bad!
- Be willing to learn, because learning gives you a broad perspective of life. Shifting your perspective on life from self-centred-ness to a world-view one can be an amazing experience. That’s why they say ‘travel broadens the mind’.
Developing a healthier mindset can be life-changing. If you were to interview the most successful people around you, you would inevitably find a high proportion of healthy mindsets. If you would like to know more, book a Virtual Cuppa with Sonya Matthews today.
