Mindset Mastery: 4 Myths to Ditch

It's no secret that "mindset" has been a pretty big buzzword lately - particularly in the entrepreneurial and career development space. 

However, it's also normal to feel slightly skeptical about the "power of the mind." 

After all, you're looking for tangible advice on how to crush your goals. So why has your Instagram feed suddenly been flooded with "improving your thoughts" and "believing in your own capabilities?" 

Before rolling your eyes into another dimension, hear me out: A healthy and growth-driven mindset isn't always a load of BS. In fact, you might be surprised by just how much it can help accelerate your success. 

Ready to master your mindset for real this time? Start by ditching these common misconceptions. 

1. Maintain a positive attitude at all times.

First of all, people who are optimistic 24/7 low-key freak me out. Second, it's just not realistic or sustainable. 

Instead of attempting to stay positive during every waking moment, focus on being resilient. 

Challenges and roadblocks will present themselves, and it's okay to let yourself feel disappointed or frustrated. 

Give yourself a moping cut-off time, and then switch gears. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? What can I do next time that will result in a smoother process? What skills can I prioritize to reduce the risk of a repeat?

All of these questions have one word in common: can. And that's what a solid mindset is really about - allowing negative emotions to take over temporarily, but maintaining firm control over the end game. 

2. When you conquer your mindset, everything will simply fall into place. 

Here's the thing: Trusting the process isn't about sitting around and waiting for your big break. 

Believing in yourself is a critical component of conquering your goals, but it needs to be balanced with hard work.

So get clear on the factors that you can control, and start taking it up a notch. Re-shift your priorities and become more consistent than ever before.

Will you still have to battle the waiting game? Of course. 

However, a goal-focused routine can prevent you from becoming too fixated on where you want to be -  because it will feel like you're already there.  

3. Changing your thoughts is all it takes.

Reframing your outlook is a great place to start, but it's also just one piece of the puzzle.

Often times, you will also need to adjust your habits to align with your new-and-improved mindset. 

This can include making more room in your day to practice mindfulness. This may also involve incorporating journaling into your lifestyle to keep track of smaller "wins."

Your thoughts will point you in the the right direction, but it's the supporting behavior that will move the needle.

4. It's all about visualizing future improvements and achievements. 

The Law of Attraction may focus on visualizing your higher self, but it also emphasizes the importance of gratitude. 

It's okay to work toward improving yourself and your circumstances, but don't neglect the value of appreciating what you already have.

Goal-setting can sometimes open up a new can of unhealthy comparisons, which may end up being counterproductive to your progress.

In these cases, a gratitude practice can help you stay on-track by instilling an appreciation for the present and enthusiasm for what's to come.