The mind is so powerful. When we choose positive thoughts and make it a habit, everything changes for the better. Making proactive choices and taking action is the way forward.
I want to talk about the effects of having a controlled, positive, and ‘growth’ mindset. Thinking with a purpose. I don’t think I truly believed in the idea of positive thinking when I first started this journey years ago. So if you’re sceptical I fully get it. I’m still working on it myself. It’s easy to get dragged down by negatives and see yourself as a “realist”, when in fact a lot of those negative thoughts aren’t real at all.
Beginning the journey of positivity
The first time I had a really powerful personal experience of positive thoughts directly effecting my actions, I was on an Outward Bound course. Outward Bound is a three-week course filled with adventure, pushing boundaries, and self-discovery.
After three weeks of all kinds of new experiences and challenges, I had one more to face. Something I had never done, and never thought I would do. I was going to run a half-marathon. I had built up strength and endurance over my time there, but this was big. I could easily have given up. Something inside me always tells me to keep going and finish what I start. Backing out wasn’t an option, even though I didn’t want to run 28km after being exhausted and weak from the toils of the past three weeks. That’s where positive mindset comes in.
I’ve been one to brood and get stuck in my head about things. Achieving greatness often feels like something other people do. But choosing to be positive and making that effort has lead me to successes.
Mindset in the here and now
I actually wrote the above over a year ago… Today I’ve decided to finish what I started. I’ve made plenty of progress since then.
Habit and comfort are all too easy to stick with, and even get trapped in. We can forget the things we’re putting up with sometimes and accept them as just how it is. But most situations can be fixed or improved with positive action.
For instance, I was unhappy with my living conditions for quite some time. I would tell myself things would be better when I earned more money. When I was earning enough money, I could move to a better home, right? It’s logical enough, but not the most accurate when you scratch beyond the surface. I decided enough was enough and came up with some ideas. The money road block was solvable by moving out of the most expensive city in the country! I moved from Auckland to Christchurch recently which gave immediate results. With a change of environment, I can continue the same spending & saving habits with a lower cost of living. This opens up opportunity for personal growth and the growth of Glow Creative.
Whatever situation you’re in that’s making you unhappy, before you give in:
- Have you dug a little deeper into possible solutions?
- Could you make a sacrifice to improve things in the long run?
- Have you allowed yourself to open your mind to possibilities (without instantly writing off big ambitions)?
- Why don’t you make a plan of action? Even if you don’t go through with it, at least you’ll know your options.
Give it some thought and be honest with yourself. Positivity and open mindedness go hand in hand with being realistic. You can and will achieve life-changing things with a positive mindset + action.
I challenge you to take a positive step towards a goal right now.
