How often do you feel stuck in a mindset rut? Do you sometimes get lost in overwhelm and negative thought patterns?
With all that can feel uncertain in life, it’s not unusual to feel lost and disheartened. Our triggers and reactions can unravel quickly and leave us feeling constricted and void of hope.
In challenging times, we may not realize we are veering off our path towards the abyss of mindset madness. It can be difficult to know how to reset our mindset and thrive again in our daily lives.
Here are the 5 practices I draw on to shift my mindset from stuck and surviving, to open and thriving.
Create the Pause
In order to make room for a mindset reset, we must slow down. When we create the pause, we carve out space that feels suspended in time.
When I was learning the art and science of coaching through Erickson International, my teacher used the term mind the gap as a metaphor and reminder to hold space for our coaching clients. The practice we were learning was to purposefully hold space for presence.
When we mind the gap, we hone in on quieting internal and external noise. Less noise, results in feeling less overwhelmed and more present. Holding space is really about quieting the urge to judge and react to whatever is before you. It’s a challenging practice, but we can incorporate the essence of it to help slow our minds down.
One way to create the pause, is to take regular breaks from technology. These breaks can help reduce stress and sensory overload. Making space for presence doesn’t have to be hard. We can divert our attention to quiet space through playful activities that bring us joy. We can create the pause at any time by directing our focus and attention towards slowing down.
Be Accountable and Observant
The greatest gift we can give ourselves, and teach our children, is to appoint ourselves in charge of our own happiness. When we are accountable, we are more likely to tune in to our inner resources to reset when we get stuck. Through our accountability, we empower ourselves to make a shift.
Having feelings is one of our best resources to know when it’s time to shift. Our feelings can be felt physically. These physical cues help take the mystery out of knowing what is right for us. If we feel good, we are headed in the right direction. If we don’t feel good, that’s our indication to tune in and get clear on what we most need in that moment.
When we decide to be an observer of our feelings and our lives, we begin to notice life isn’t just happening to us. We have a say in how we receive everything before us.
When we are accountable and self-aware, we get to know ourselves very well. We can use this knowledge to help ourselves get unstuck.
Up the Ante
When we get stuck in a mindset rut, life can feel stagnant and grim. If we want to feel more energized and excited, we can choose to up the ante by getting uncomfortable.
Pushing out of our comfort zone is one of the best ways to shift out of a rut.
If we want different results, we have to change the way we show up. When we feel stuck in a mindset rut, we need to think different thoughts and approach life with a fresh perspective. We must shake things up.
We can up the ante and push out of our comfort zone, little by little, or in one giant leap – that’s a personal choice and preference based on the circumstance before us. The point is to get more comfortable with the idea of getting uncomfortable. When we create new action and movement in our lives, we help change our energy and overall vibe.
Anticipate More
Our expectations pack a powerful punch. When we stop expecting other people to make us happy, we are in for an exciting ride. When we expect that life will be an amazing adventure, it will be.
When we anticipate that overall life is good, our overall experience of life will feel good. When we choose to see the best in others and ourselves, that will become part of our experience too.
When we feel like life is hard and awful and we won’t ever catch a break, that will also become our experience.
Anticipating more requires a leap of faith and belief in the magic of life. When we anticipate more, we react to life differently and our experience shifts. It’s part faith and part choice. It’s up to us to decide.
Daily Deliberate Reset
The health of our mindset is so important. Our mindset affects our overall experience and quality of life. Our mindset dictates how we show up in the world, and how we treat others around us.
When we practice mindset resets when we aren’t stuck, it becomes easier to tune in and reset when we get stuck.
A mindset reset is all about creating pause to start fresh. I’ve found it’s easiest to start fresh in the morning when my mind is naturally quiet. Each morning, before I get out of bed, I spend a few moments appreciating the gift of another day. Then I shift my attention to creating an intention for the day. I decide how I want to be in the day before me, that’s part of my starting fresh.
My intention doesn’t create the day, but it powerfully starts me off on my best foot. It helps me anticipate more from my day. If I get stuck throughout the day, I am more likely to draw on my intention to help me shift and react proactively to what’s before me.
Having a daily mindset ritual is a chance to turn the page and start fresh. There isn’t a right or wrong way to create your reset ritual. Do it in a way that feels right for you.
What does your life feel like when you are thriving?
Like what you read? Get your free weekly Happiness Note for a dose of happiness with some simple ideas for remembering the good, feeling your best and re-setting as needed. You’ll also receive a free mini E-Course: ‘Self-Care Success: Adopting a Self-Care Mindset That Sticks’.
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