5 Tips to Adopt an Intentional Mindset for Growth

The MOXY mindset is something we talk about a lot in our community. We are firm believers that your mindset dictates the trajectory of your life. The energy you create with your thoughts and intentions attracts that same energy, returned to you in kind. Your mindset influences how you think and feel about what is going on around you and affects the decisions you make each day. It is vital to living a fulfilling and prosperous life. 

Establishing a positive mindset improves your physical and mental health, helps you control your stress level, and determines your resilience when things become challenging. It is a “make or break” element in your life, so working on it and studying how to improve your mindset is a very beneficial practice. Here are 5 tips for how you can adopt an healthy mindset for growth and improvement:

1. Challenge your limiting beliefs about yourself 

How often do you degrade yourself for what you perceive as shortcomings? Are you kind to yourself or are you constantly saying things like “I’m fat,” “I’m lazy, “I’m not smart,” or “I’m ugly.” This kind of negative self-talk can greatly affect your mindset and keep you trapped within the limits of your own perception. You can change this defective mindset by establishing some positive self-talk routines and using affirmations each day to build yourself up rather than the opposite. Start with some simple ones like these:

• “I am worthy of love and acceptance.”
• “I am smart and have a bright future.”
• “I can think and speak for myself.”
• “I love my body and will work to care for it everyday.”
• “I am valuable and the world needs people like me.”

Practicing affirmations like these will train your brain to focus on the good, rather than disparage yourself and your choices. This simple practice of showing yourself grace and kindness is a powerful tool that can really change your life.

2. Face your fears

Fear keeps us trapped, but it is something you can learn to control with a little practice. When we feel fear and panic, it is simply the “fight or flight” response in our body going a little haywire. It is a chemical response to stimulus that we perceive as scary or anxiety-inducing. Like any chemical response, you can learn to control it with specific exercises and practice. In this case, box breathing and vagal nerve tapping (tapping your chest to stimulate your nervous system) can help reduce your bodily response to the scary stimuli. When you can gain some control over fear, it becomes easier for you to assess what is happening and how to deal with it. 

When you approach your fears from this more scientific angle, you can see how they can be managed and even leveraged to your advantage when you are under control. Isn’t that an amazing realization? 

3. Change your perspective

The next time you find yourself thinking negatively about something, try a little perspective shift exercise. Ask yourself some of these questions to help you view your thoughts from another perspective:

• How would I help a friend deal with this situation?
• Who am I helping by thinking this way?
• Who else has faced this issue that I can relate to?
• What will be the outcome if I continue to think this way?
• What steps can I take to get the outcome I desire?
• What can I learn that will help me feel better about what is going on?

Changing your emotional and mental input about a situation can help you shift your perspective. This is a valuable tool whenever you find yourself dwelling on something and not thinking in a productive manner. Try it out!

4. Change your internal voice

Just like we discussed in tip #1, how you talk to yourself matters. How do you speak about your situation in your head? Do you say things like, “I don’t want to go to work” or “I have way too much to do this week?” Using negative syntax when you speak to yourself can affect your mindset. Instead of using a negative tone, try rephrasing things so they are communicated in a positive way. Instead say “I am grateful to have a job” or “I am busy, but I have the skills to get it all done.” This simple shift in language and vocabulary can make all the difference when you are trying to adopt a positive mindset.

5. Get support

Above all else, know that you do not have to deal with the negative thoughts and feelings that surface when you are doing the hard work to change your mindset. Talk to your friends and family or seek out a professional to help you through the process. Join the MOXY community to be surrounded by women just like you who are working to live more purposeful and intentional lives. There are lots of people who care about your well-being and are excited to cheer you on as you continue to grow and become the best version of yourself. 

We hope these tips can help you work toward developing an intentional mindset for growth and positive change in your life. We look forward to seeing you in the Be Well + Be Great Community!