How to change your mindset and make your life better

How to think positively

Negative thinking prevents us from reaching the goal. Every opportunity is seen as a threat, a harbinger of failure. Past failures haunt you, focusing on them does not allow you to move forward. Everything was bad and will be bad.

Positive thinking works the other way around. Everything that gets in the way of the goal becomes another opportunity to achieve it. If for a negative-minded person, failure is an obstacle that cannot be overcome, for a positive-minded person it is an experience from which one can and should benefit.

A simple but illustrative example. A hole in one’s favorite jeans is a reason to dump denim. For another, it is an opportunity to try yourself as a designer and turn old pants into a trendy, worn model.

So, first of all, you need to think positively.

1. Learn to have an internal dialogue

Tell yourself, “I can do better,” or “Next time, I'll do better,” or something similar. According to recent research, this is an effective way to increase productivity and start putting in more effort towards solving a problem.

The main thing is to believe in what you say. After all, this is not magic, but hard work on oneself.

2. Turn negative thoughts into neutral ones

Don't torture yourself trying to make the bad good in a second. Go to this gradually.

3. Understand that your negative thoughts are just thoughts

Often our experiences are groundless. Think if yours have a real reason.

How to stop being afraid of failure

How many cool projects have died in the idea stage because of someone's fear of failing in implementation? If every inventor was afraid to make mistakes and gave up a venture, it is unlikely that you would now read this article from the screen of a smartphone or laptop, drive to work in a car and enjoy other benefits of civilization.

1. Remember: failure means you don't stand still

Mistakes are not made by those who do nothing. If you fail, this is a sure sign of moving towards your goal.

2. Think of failure as an experience that helps you become better

Chances are, you won't repeat the error again. You will discover your weaknesses and do it differently next time. And if it doesn't work out again? It means that you will gain experience again. And so on until you reach where you are going.

Every failure is a valuable lesson.

Ask yourself questions:

What has this situation taught me?
How can I benefit from it?
What are the positive aspects of it?

You will see that everything can be useful.

3. Don't identify failure with yourself

Don't think that you are a failure because you make mistakes or fail. You would be if you didn’t learn a lesson from this and stop for fear that the situation will happen again.

4. Prepare for difficulties and decide how you will deal with them

Scientists have found that positive attitudes alone are not enough to cope with negativity.

Subjects were asked to imagine the next week. The first group had to think exclusively positively, and the second - as it sees fit. It turned out that people who saw a great future later were less energetic and did less than others.

The balance between positive thoughts and a willingness to deal with difficulties is more effective than optimistic attitude alone.

5. Focus not on the problem, but on the solution

Thinking about a problem takes energy and time, which is better spent on solving it. Don't think about failure, try to prevent it. This will not only relieve you of unnecessary stress, but it will also help you identify weaknesses.

How to develop a growth mindset

People with a fixed mindset push themselves into frames. They are sure that it is impossible to change and develop talent in themselves, and when faced with difficulties, they feel a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.

Those with a growth mindset believe that they can become better, strive to develop and learn new things. And all they have is just the beginning, and they can achieve more. They just know how to discern an opportunity in failure and perceive it as an experience that will be useful to achieve the goal.

1. Change Your Attitude About Failure

When you learn to perceive failure as part of your path to success, that very path will become easier, and your chances of reaching the end will increase.

2. Prepare for difficulties

If you used to walk along a straight path along the field, now you have to climb to the top of the mountain. And this is not easy.

3. Focus on personal growth and development

Be interested in things you don't know. Do more than before. Raise the bar, don't stop there. Stop accepting your knowledge and skills as something permanent that comes with you. Instead, imagine that you are a vessel that is only a third full and there is much more to learn.

4. Be persistent and determined

If you give up, you will go back to the beginning and once again become a hostage to fixed thinking. Think about what work has already been done.

How to tune in to the abundance mindset

People with a deficit mindset think that there are not enough resources for everyone. Stephen Covey makes an interesting analogy in his book.

Stephen Covey American business expert.

People with a deficit mindset are convinced that there is only one pie in the world and that if someone takes a piece, they will get less. This attitude leads to a win / lose mindset: if you win, I lose, and I can't let that happen.

People with an abundant mindset believe that there are many pies and there are no losers: everyone wins and gets their own piece (or even more than one).

1. Think about what you have

Concentrate on this. Material or immaterial things - it doesn't matter. You need to learn to think abundantly and be grateful for what you have.

2. Share

Knowledge, for example. Or take part in a charity event. If you can share something, then you have it in abundance.

How to think proactively

Those who think reactively depend on external factors. They do not play an active role in life, but simply go with the flow.

People with proactive thinking do not blame the situation or others if something went wrong, but take responsibility for their lives. They know what they can and cannot change, and they focus on the former.

1. Take action

Get behind the wheel from the passenger seat and start managing your life. Instead of saying “The weather is too bad to go jogging,” say “It's raining outside, but dry at home. So I can do other exercises."

The point is to stop being held hostage to situations and act no matter what happens around you.

2. Get rid of phrases of reactive thinking

Forget about:

I can't because …
If I could, I would.
I had to…
This is how the circumstances developed.

And try:

I will find an alternative.
I can do it.
This is my decision.
I want it myself.

3. Take charge of your life

Do not waste your time on trifles and do not get angry when something does not go according to plan. The bus didn't arrive on time? Come out early, take a book with you so as not to waste time, turn in your license and save up for a car, but do not become a victim of circumstances. Let them work for you.

Nobody promised that it would be easy and fast. But who, if not you, will help you become better and succeed?