Mindset Archives ~

Michelle was in her forties when she felt like she was missing something and realized she was unhappy with her life. She was living the life she dreamed of when she was twenty, and she was disappointed. Michelle had:

beautiful home on a lot surrounded by nature with a gourmet kitchen and a view of the valley below
a fulfilling marriage to a man that was her best friend and lover
two busy teenage children active in sports and school activities. She adored them
a dog named Barney that ran to greet her every time she came through the front door

But what Michelle didn’t know was that she was stuck in a rut.

Each day was the routine that never varied, she drove the same route to work, ate the same quick meals, and went home to have the same evening schedules and conversations with her family.

She was going through the motions of what she thought was a happy life.

When she overheard someone at work talking about a “growth mindset”, she did a Google search and realized that’s what she’d been missing.

“I was being so careful to do everything right, to color inside the lines. But when I heard about growth mindset, I knew that’s what my life was lacking—growth.

I had stopped trying new things and experimenting.” “My life had become predictable nothing new, no challenges, no expansion, and no passion.

What Is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that even though you may not have certain qualities, you can develop them through learning and practice. It is seeing your possibilities from a positive perspective.

If you have a growth mindset, you might think things like, “If I practice my painting skills, I can get better at creating art.” Or you might say, “I can learn to meditate if I take a class about it.” Or you sign up for the belly dancing class you always thought about taking.

The beauty of a growth mindset is that it gives you freedom.

You’re free to try new things, experiment, and study the results.

With a growth mindset, the outcome of a situation doesn’t become your identity.

How Can You Lean into a Growth Mindset?

Developing a growth mindset doesn’t mean that you must do something radical like sell all your possessions and move halfway across the world.

A growth mindset is more about staying open to new experiences and new people.

It can be as simple as a willingness to try a hip-hop dance class at your local gym, change your comfortable routines, and seek out new relationships with people who are different from you.

What If You Surprised Yourself?

Michelle surprised herself by signing up for acting classes. She’d always loved musicals and she liked the idea of performing in front of a crowd. So, she gave it a try and found it uplifting.

The classes had a benefit she hadn’t counted on either—increased confidence. She felt bold and empowered again.

This helped her lead more effective presentations at work and within a few months, her boss promoted her.

Of course, not every surprise has been wonderful. Michelle also signed up for a knitting group. “I loved the people there, but I quickly discovered that knitting wasn’t my thing. Still, I’m glad I was willing to give the experience a try.”

How open are you to new experiences and people? Here is something I do each month. Give it a try.:

get a blank 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece of paper
place it in front of you in the horizontal position
make 3 equal columns
at the top of the first column write What I am Doing
in the middle column write What I should be Doing
in the last column write What I want to be Doing

Give yourself some quiet time to write in each column. You will be surprised as you find clarity and awareness about your growth mindset.

A growth mindset is a wonderful way to go through life. It means embracing the unknown and being willing to take risks, even when it feels a little bit scary (and fun!).

You can read Mindset Secret #1 Here

You may also be interested in What Are You Saying Yes To?

If you know someone that would benefit from this article, please forward it to them.

Nancy Dadami is a Flow Specialist, Creatively Fit Coach, and Intuitive, teaching you how to get Better Flow Faster so you can live a life you love.

Sally was the oldest daughter of alcoholic parents, and she spent most of her childhood taking care of her younger siblings. She got them ready for school, walked them to the bus stop and kissed them as they boarded the bus.

School was difficult for Sally. She struggled to learn how to read and write. She was embarrassed because it seemed easy for the other students, but not for her.

Sally was afraid to ask for help because she did not want to look stupid. Her third- grade teacher frequently mocked her telling her she should know how to read and write by now, often Sally hung her head and felt like a dummy.

As a result, Sally didn’t do well in school and believed she was stupid. She’d always dreamed of helping people as a nurse, but she dropped out of school in tenth grade. Instead, she worked at a local diner as a waitress.

But Annette, the owner of the diner, noticed the sparkle in Sally’s eyes as he served the customers. She greeted them by name, knew how they liked their coffee and made them feel welcome and comfortable.

Annette noticed Sally’s rapport with the customers and believed in her. Annette encouraged the younger woman to study for GED, so she could get her high school diploma and go to college.

Annette said, “You have a fixed mindset, and that’s holding you back from what you want.”

What Is a Fixed Mindset?

A fixed mindset is the idea that you were born with or without certain qualities and talents. You may think things like, “I’m not good at reading. I have never been.” Or you might say, “I want to paint landscapes, but I wasn’t born an artist.”

The problem with a fixed mindset is that it keeps you stuck. You limit your experiences and your feelings based on what you think you can achieve. But there is an alternative point of view that’s called a growth mindset.

How Does a Fixed Mindset Impact You?

It keeps you stuck in your current way of thinking. Just like Sally believed she was stupid and could not pursue her dreams of becoming a nurse.

A fixed mindset can affect every area of your life even if you don’t realize it. Your thoughts create your mindset. Take a minute to think about these five areas of your life. What are your thoughts and beliefs about your:

Relationships – family, friends, colleagues
Health – weight, energy level, body, mind, spirit
Money – abundant, not enough, freedom
Career – contribution, service, purpose, meaning
Well-being – peace of mind, the beauty around you

Your mindset either frees you to see your possibilities or limits you and robs you of the chance to reach your potential.

Are You Willing to Let Go of a Fixed Mindset?

Sally explained to Annette the troubles she had in school and Annette helped her to get tested for learning disabilities. When Sally realized her brain processed information differently and that’s why she had struggled for years, Sally cried because she realized she could learn.

For the first time, Sally began to believe it was possible for her to become a nurse. She no longer saw her skills and abilities as fixed. She gave up her “this is all there is for me” mindset. Instead, she embraced the idea that with time and help, she could continue her education and pursue her dreams.

Where do you need to shift in your mindset so you can reach your dreams?

Want support? I mentor clients individually and in groups. I would be honored to help you. I believe“when one person is uplifted, everyone benefits”.

Nancy Dadami is Get In Flow Trainer & Mentor, She teaches creatives, empaths, and small business owners to live in “the flow”, clear their energy field and align their surroundings with their intentions, so they create the business and life they love.

Mindset Secret #2 – Develop A Growth Mindset