Dear Ms Anonymous,
In my post about Discovering Your True Self I challenged you to really think about how your mindset makes a difference in what you achieve. I asked you to take some time to reflect on who influences your mindset, the experiences that have shaped you, and how that all plays a part in who you are becoming.
What is a mindset, anyway?
A mindset is an established set of attitudes held by someone. It’s how you perceive yourself… the thoughts and beliefs that shape your actions and habits.
How do you develop a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is developed through repeated actions of choosing to see things in a favorable light, and deciding to react in a way that is positive, even in the most negative situations. We all have negative experiences, and we are the ones who get to decide what will follow – will we sit and wallow in self-pity, or will we choose to put one foot in front of the other and move forward?
I was listening to my girl, my mentor, Rachel Hollis on her Rise Podcast recently. She was interviewing Colin O’Brady – a professional endurance athlete, adventurer and motivational speaker. Colin became all three of those things through quite the unfortunate freak accident. He burned 25% of his skin when he attempted fire jump roping for the first time. The link to the interview- Unlocking Your Potential Using Grit and Google is below – you’ve got to hear it!
After the accident, Colin’s mother did not allow him to sit in despair in his hospital bed. No, she forced him to come up with a goal for when he got out of there. Every day she would ask him what his hopes, dreams and goals were for after his recovery.
Who influences you to grow when you feel stuck?
You see, it’s important to have the right people around you. You can’t have a growth mindset when the voices in your head, and the ones surrounding you, are all bringing you down. Who encourages you to take the first step? Those are the people you need in your corner every single day.
What do you do when you face obstacles?
The truth is, in life we are all going to face obstacles – both big and small. Colin challenges us to decide how we will respond to those obstacles.
You get to decide “are you facing an insurmountable obstacle or an opportunity for growth?”
Colin O’Brady – Unlocking Your Potential Using Grit and Google
Having a growth mindset means that we reach for our goals, no matter what stands in our way. When we get to an obstacle, we decide to go through it, instead of turning around. Move forward one step at a time knowing that there is more out there for us that we want to get to. Do not stay stuck in the same situation. Learn from it, and evolve. This is how we unlock our true potential – we grow.
Just for today, all we have to decide is to take the very first step. And just by doing that you are already closer to your goal.
Do you have goals that you want to chat about? Jump on a strategy session with me! I can’t wait to help you get an action plan to start achieving your goals!
With love,
P.S. – Listen to Colin O’Brady’s interview Unlocking Your Potential Using Grit and Google with Rachel Hollis
P.P.S. – Oh, also, Colin has a book out that I can’t wait to read. It’s called The Impossible First. I cannot wait to dive into this book. His story is so captivating – going from the doctor telling him he will never walk again after the accident, to holding four world records in the adventurer’s challenges. Stay tuned, I’ll be bringing you a review immediately after I devour this one, as soon as I can get my hands on it.