Success is mostly achieved in your mind first. Develop a successful mindset with these tips.
Scientists, theologians, coaches, philosophers and winning people
from around the world agree, the key to success is contained inside you.
Your thoughts are your biggest limitation or your strongest asset.
Here are five steps to gain control over your life and career and
develop a successful mindset.
Recognize your negative thoughts.
Every day negative
thoughts sneak into our internal language. We say or think things like,
“This is a bad day,” or “I’m not being very productive,” or even, “I’m
terrible at _________.” These negative thoughts permeate our life and
have a strong influence on what we believe deep down. When we say
things like, “I’m terrible at saving money,” it becomes true.
The first step to eliminating negative thoughts is to recognize them.
Whenever you have a negative or limiting thought try to pause and
reflect on it. Ask questions like:
* Do I really believe this?
* Why am I having this thought?
* Is this a common thought for me?
By stepping back and taking a look at your negative thoughts, you
begin to take away their power. It takes practice and patience to
recognize them however as you begin to watch your thoughts, you’ll
become better at catching those negative thoughts before they happen.
Practice positive affirmations.
Another practice which
fills your mind, heart and spirit with positive thoughts and helps to
eliminate the negative ones are positive affirmations. Affirmations can
be created to help you through anything. If for example, you found
yourself thinking you are terrible at saving money then a positive
affirmation to eliminate that limiting belief might be “I love to save
money and am so grateful for the savings I am building.” Or “I am
masterful with money.”
An affirmation practice can be approached in two ways. Many people
prefer to recite the affirmation in the morning and throughout the day,
making it a practice. While others prefer to use affirmations as a
counterbalance to negative thoughts. Thus when they feel themselves
thinking negative thoughts about money, for example, they would recite
their positive money affirmation.
Listen to an interview conducted by popular speaker Tony Robbins on the subject of the successful mindset.
Tony takes it a step farther into conditioning your mind to see it
first, and then follow through. If your "why" is big enough you'll
overcome fear and be successful at what ever your task or the
undertaking you attempt to execute.
Be grateful.
Gratitude may very well be the most
positive success tactic available. It’s amazing the calm and peace which
comes over you when you feel truly grateful for what you have. When
you embrace a practice of gratitude the feeling of “I’ll be happy when
I’m _________” or “I’ll be successful when I’m _________” goes away and
you’re allowed to be happy and feel successful right now, today. Now
that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t have goals. Gratitude simply
makes it possible to focus on those goals as goals and not needs.
Practicing gratitude can take many forms. Some people find great
power in the daily ritual of a gratitude journal. This idea works
because it makes recognizing all that you have a daily practice.
However, others prefer to tic off what they’re grateful for in their
head or to simply recognize all they have on an ongoing basis. Try a
gratitude journal and see how it changes your life.
Recognize myths.
There are many people who
believe success is a combination of luck and hard work. Or who believe
that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. What myths about
money and success did you grow up with? What myths do you still hold
onto, either consciously or unconsciously?
Spend some time exploring your success myths. Ask yourself what do
you believe, why do you believe it and is it really true? You may find
that much of what you hold onto as true, you don’t really believe,
they’re just things you picked up as you grew and for one reason or
another stuck with you. If you’re able to let go of these myths and
embrace new beliefs, empowering beliefs about money and success, you
will be one step closer to the success you desire. Which brings us to
the final step in developing a success mindset – how do you define
success?
Define success for yourself.
Often when we are asked
to define success, we look at those around us who we consider to be
successful. Maybe it’s the person down the street with the million
dollar home, two new cars in the driveway and a houseful of beautiful
well mannered children or maybe it’s the person who owns their own real
estate business and is always smiling and wears the best suits.
Additionally, if you pay close attention, we often define success in
material forms. “Success is having_________.” And we compare what we
have to what others have to determine whether or not we feel successful.
Spend some time analyzing your definition for success. Where did it
come from? Who do you consider to be successful and why? Then take a
look at what you want for your life separate from what others have. You
may find that you already fit your personal definition of success.
Having a successful mindset is not only the key to being successful
it is the key to joy and living your best life. Embrace these steps, be
patient with yourself they’re not easy, and live the successful life
you were destined to live.
