Living Potential - The Power of Mindset

If feelings are the window to understanding one’s heart, then it can be claimed harnessing potential requires a review of our mindset. Potential is not always easy to live up to and requires a strong self-belief which has a significant impact on real-life outcomes. Our mindset is a predictor of our ability to achieve potential. When we believe in our intelligence, research has shown that it positively affects our abilities.

Have you ever thought you were an ordinary leader, clumsy at yoga, or bad at do-it-yourself projects?

Thoughts like these are negative and limiting beliefs. From our beliefs we form self-perceptions (mindset) that impact our behaviors and ultimately lead to action or in some cases inaction. Limiting thoughts dull our capacity to visualize improvement, curbing behaviors, and thus potential.

Identify what is behind the behavior that helps or hinders

Consider the fable of three bulls in a ranch pasture staring at a pasture of untouched oats and barley on the other side of a river. Whenever the bulls try to cross the river to reach the untouched paster, the depth and swiftness of the water deters them. After a few days of attempting to cross the river, the they realize there is no point in trying to get the untouched pasture, the bulls naturally give up. The water of the river water subsides due to drought, and at the same time one of the bulls is replaced with a new one. On seeing the pasture, the new bull begins to cross the river, but the other bulls, being social creatures, stop it before it gets washed away. The new bull was startled, looked around, and tried repeatedly to cross the river, only to be stopped on each attempt. Finally, the new bull accepts the group code of conduct and does not bother to go for the untouched pasture.

Over the next few weeks, the two original bulls are sold and replaced with new bulls that have never encountered a deep and swift river. With a perfectly untouched pasture to forage sitting just across a now tame river, and bulls that have never seen the river when it was at its deepest with a swift current, none of the bulls try to cross the river. All the bulls had learned the unwritten rule: do not attempt to cross the river.

Mind-sets ingrained by past practices remain ingrained far beyond the existence of the practices that formed them, even when new practices have been put in place.

Individuals who believe in their potential will perform at higher levels than those with a fixed or predetermined mindset. Research has demonstrated that having a belief in your potential can be expanded with effort and preparation ultimately helping to improve performance outcomes. But first, achieving the proper mindset requires finding the root cause of any ill-conceived thoughts. Mind-sets ingrained by past practices remain ingrained far beyond the existence of the practices that formed them, even when new practices have been put in place. The next step is to reframe those beliefs and thereby broaden the range of acceptable behavioral choices needed make, day in and day out. What different beliefs, for example, would have inspired expanded and better-informed behavioral choices for the new bulls to cross the river?

Make the change, and understand that it WILL get personal

Reframing the root causes of mind-sets that block change is a critical step in the right direction and can sometimes create the desired shift in behavior on its own. Often, however, we struggle to change behavior for reasons that are more emotional than intellectual. The single biggest barrier to rapid personal change, after all, is our ability to become aware of the problem and then shift to what we need. Seldom is the core issue what others need to change, but rather what we need to change. We (human beings) consistently overvalue how much we are part of the solution, and not the problem. Self-serving bias is a term to describe ones distorted view to reinforce self-esteem. Self-serving bias explains why our psyche can think that the issue is someone else’s to solve. It involves viewing our own actions in a positive light and interpreting events in a way favorable to our personal perspective.

How then, do we overcome this bias and commit to meaningful mindset shift?

Necessary for a strong mindset requires a deeper look at our core beliefs. Core beliefs, or what is in our heart can overcome bias by helping us better navigate how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors coexist. If there is strength in awareness of the impact and cause of our actions, meaningful change is possible. Our motivation depends on positive thinking and begins by what we believe in. Choosing a growth mindset over a fixed mindset can have a decisive impact on decision making to achieve goals. Growth mindset sets the tone for a healthy mindset leaving a fixed mindset powerless on our mind and actions.

With a fixed mindset, you can:

• have a critical “inner” voice. This self-criticism is sometimes hard to catch. If you feel like you have this inner voice, try to be aware the next time you are unmotivated to do something. Is there a voice telling you “no,” or a strong feeling — such as anxiety, or fear?

• feel unable to make choices and that things simply “happen” to you — instead of you being the one to “make things happen.” A fixed mindset means you believe you have fixed talents and abilities – this is a limiting mindset.

When you change to a growth mindset, you can:

• view self-criticism as a way for you to change the perception of self. This step is a powerful way of becoming a more positive person. Positive attitude can help bring wisdom and enlightenment — and with enlightenment, there will be less negative self-talk and unnecessary anxiety and more opportunities for positive self-talk. One of these approaches that can be practiced daily is called positive affirmations.

• understand the power of choice. You can choose how you interpret feelings, wants, desires, and goals through core beliefs. You can take responsibility for your actions and how much effort you put into yourself and your goals, as well as other aspects of your life.

• practice self-love! Many people who love themselves can do so and still maintain the ability to think positively and logically while maintaining emotional stability. Treat yourself well and change your outlook by making decisions that you know will make you happy and motivated.

Reach out to learn more about aligning your core beliefs and mindset to reach your potential.