Mindset: Your Most Untapped Asset
I was first introduced to the idea of a mindset as a cross-country runner in high school. Running long miles, often by myself, brought me face-to-face with how our minds can be our greatest allies or foes. When I would hit a physical limitation, I would turn to the support of my mind. Here I realized that my mind was one of my most powerful muscles. I actively nurtured my mental state before and during a race, intentionally working with my mind before I really knew what I was doing. I have carried this curiosity with me throughout my life and believe it is why I am drawn to introspective and contemplative practices.
As the field of neuroscience continues to grow, the mind is becoming less elusive. Mindfulness is mainstream and we are beginning to just now understand what the yogis have known for centuries. It is this: we are powerful beings capable of making our realities a beautiful experience or a living hell. I remember early on when learning meditation, that my mind seemed to incessantly chatter. My first Yoga teacher called this “monkey mind” and I knew that with good training, even a monkey will sit still. So why couldn’t my mind?
Learning to Be Still
“Things keep changing. The clock ticks, the day unfolds, trees grow, leaves turn brown, hair turns gray, children grow up and leave home, attention skitters from this to that, the cookie is delicious but then it is all gone, you’re mad about something for a while and then get over it, consciousness streams on and on and on…”- Dr. Rick Hanson, a senior fellow of the Greater Good Center at UC Berkeley.
A consequence of non-stop thinking is not only mental fatigue but overall general fatigue. The energy systems of the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected. As a lifelong athlete, the days where I sustain a long period of mental focus leave me more fatigued than some of my hardest strength training sessions. Taking more breaks and learning how to focus my mind is a practice I work on every day.
Learning to touch stillness is an evolving journey for me. The more I learn, the more I learn I have to learn. One thing is certain though, regular practice is reinforcing what I want to grow in my mental space. Initially, through breathwork and meditation, I became aware that I was not very nice to myself. This made me very uncomfortable and almost led to me abandoning the practice altogether. Through non-judgmental awareness, I was able to get curious and work more skillfully with these tendencies.
What is Mindset?
It is your collection of thoughts and beliefs that shape your thought habits. And your thought habits affect how you think, what you feel, and what you do. Your mindset impacts how you make sense of the world, and how you make sense of yourself.
American Psychologist and author of the book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, CarolDweck writes about the power of mindset. She states that those who possess a growth mindset are more likely to be successful. Below I have highlighted some of the attributes associated with a fixed versus growth mindset. Pay attention to which words you gravitate towards to learn about your current mindset status.
Mindset is shaped by a combination of thoughts, experiences, and values. You can change or alter your mindset through mindfulness and self-awareness practices.
Befriend Your Mind
One of our most important relationships is the one we have with ourselves. When my mind is overactive, I notice I lose the capacity to stay in a growth mindset. So, it’s important to learn how to bring yourself back to home base. Through mental fitness exercises, we can train our minds to work with us, not against us. Most attempts at positive change fail because we stop at insight and don’t build habits. Sustained change towards a more positive mind requires laying down neural pathways to form new habits through consistent daily practice.
Recognizing Thoughts Practice
Thoughts in and of themselves aren’t problems – it’s over-associating with them that is.
To begin, take a comfortable position and reconnect with your body by straightening your spine, rolling your shoulders back and down, and releasing any expectations you may have as you enter the practice.
Take a couple of deep breaths, releasing all the air from your lungs as you exhale.
Settle into a natural and effortless rhythm with your breath. Take your time.
Now, shift to silently saying to yourself with each breath
As you inhale silently say the word “inhale”
As you exhale silently say the word “exhale”
Anytime you notice a thought bubble up, silently say to yourself – “thinking”
Being able to recognize thoughts without engaging in them is the first step to working with them.
As you learn to work with your mind, having a community of practice can support you in your journey. I am hosting a free Pre-Holiday Virtual Retreat on November 22, 2022, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm EST. Join me for one hour of intentional, guided relaxation!