Exploring Mindset: What It Truly Means and How to Cultivate It

Mindset explored - what does it actually mean?

Let’s play a game exploring linguistics and our instinctive responses to specific language cues:

Use this sentence: “I am _____ because I want it all”

What word comes to mind for the blank?

• Greedy?

• Selfish?

• Unrealistic?

• Deluded?

How about:

• Optimistic?

• Ambitious?

• Generous with myself

• Kind to myself

• Excited!

This is a really simple way of explaining the “mindset” concept that coaches are constantly wanging on about (and apparently it’s all over the corporate world now too).

I’ve always worded it with children as:

“What is your approach to this? Starting by believing you can do it, or approaching it believing you’re likely to fail?”

Mindset can also be referred to as working on your attitude, your general psyche, your energy, your approach, your beliefs...

I always think it’s a bit like hypnobirthing - our brain associates certain words or phrases with certain physical or emotional responses. Training our brain to surround itself with a set of words, approaches and attitudes that are inherently associated with positive outcomes can, in turn, generate more positive outcomes.

Best way to do this? No one way, but here are some effective strategies:

1. Surrounding yourself with positive material eg useful Ted Talks, podcasts, meditations (hello YouTube and hello Suzy Reading’s Monday micro moments on Instagram

2. Knowledge is power. Expand your knowledge through sources like podcasts (I’m obsessed with the Startup Studio Podcast atm)

3. Reading beautiful work eg Michelle Obama, Sara Tasker, Sas Petherick

4. Build your own support system. Surrounding yourself with your very own cheerleading squad, ie people that get it and get you

5. Practice affirmations or positive statements, written down in the first person in the present tense

6. Journalling. Writing in a diary or journaling (I use The Positive Planner) can help organise your thoughts and goals

7. Coaching. A coach or coaching programme that really resonates with you can provide guidance and motivation

8. Therapy - for greater work, therapy can be amazing (I had it for loss, but I can’t see how anyone wouldn’t benefit from it)

9. Self Care -giving yourself time and space to absorb all of this

As you explore these strategies, remember that mindset is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to remain open to change and actively seek ways to transform your mindset to one that fosters positivity and growth. What methods resonate with you? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic!

With love, 

Laura x

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If you enjoyed reading this blog post, here’s a few more that you may find useful for your creative small business:

1. Two things I’m always asked

2. 8 useful writing prompts for when you can’t think of anything to blog about

3. The importance of creating as a creative