WHY MINDSET IS SUCH A WELCOMED BUZZ WORD!
I’m sure you have heard all about having the “right mindset” or “shifting your mindset.”
It’s a welcome trend that I hope sticks around because it’s asking people to really examine how they think. And it emphasizes how our thoughts create our reality.
Our mind is to be watched and observed (by whom - that’s a blog post coming soon) …we can’t believe everything it thinks. I imagine this doesn’t make sense but stay with me here.
We have several parts to our brain - and they control different functions. Depending on which part of our brain (it is our brain thinking the thoughts) that we are listening to, that determines the quality and nature of our thoughts.
If we are having very strong reactive thoughts, it’s possible our “fight or flight” brain (amigdala) is doing the thinking. If we are reflective and calm, more than likely we are listening to the executive functioning part of our brain (prefrontal lobes).
This knowledge is a superpower when we use it.
How?
If we don’t like thoughts that we are thinking - pause and ask yourself? What is the nature of this thought? Could it be that my “fight or flight” has been triggered?
If the answer is yes - pause again - and analyze the situation. Do you feel threatened by someone, an idea or something? Are you comparing yourself to someone?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions - you are using your most basic part of your brain.
Here’s where you shift your mindset - imagine the same scenario that has you reacting and upset ….and take three breaths. Imagine that you were looking at it from someone (who is calm and reflective like Buddha…lol) else’s point of view. Try those thoughts on to see how they feel…
They may look like -
“Wow, they are doing the best they can! It’s not for me, but good for them.”
“I don’t like this. That’s ok. I don’t have to engage….nor give any of this my precious energy.”
“I am upset right now because I don’t think that I deserve xyz ….. But in reality, I deserve whatever I want … I am doing the best I can, and I am proud of myself!”
Next time you feel your amygdala firing off, take a step back and pause and reflect!
I would love to hear this goes for you -