5 ways to change your mindset today

If you have unfulfilled goals and dreams and wish you could change your mindset, you're not alone. The truth is that 92% of people say that the goals they set for themselves every year are never met. With such a high percentage, there must be something holding them back. Before we look at what might hold this group back, let's look at the 8% who have achieved their goals to better understand what these top achievers are doing differently. Individuals in these 8% come from all walks of life. They are married, single or divorced. Dropouts from higher or secondary education; middle class, wealthy or even poor by most standards. They are composed of a variety of ages and ethnicities from all over the world. But one of the main commonalities among this group is: a similar set of success-oriented mindsets that guide their thoughts and actions. The truth is that no matter where you are in life or where you come from, you have the ability to set goals and effectively change your mindset and achieve them. The sure way to determine if you need mental control is to answer the question: Do you regularly achieve your goals and live your dreams? If you answered "yes," read on, and you'll probably know why. If you answer "no," the next seven steps can be a game-changer for you.

1. Accept that your thinking needs to be adjusted

We all have goals and dreams that have not unfolded the way we hoped or expected. When this happens repeatedly, we start to wonder what we need to change. But we rarely look at our thinking as the place to start making changes. We live in a skills-driven society focused on learning new skills and improving the skills we are weak in. This often reinforces the belief that we need more education in order to achieve our goals. Some people go back to school, others attend seminars and workshops or read books, and are always looking for a set of magical skills that will make everything in its right place. Don't get me wrong, I don't underestimate skills; but more often than not, it's our mentality that needs to be adjusted. The good news is that changing your mindset is much less expensive and much faster than learning a new skill. So the first step is simply to acknowledge that you will be working to improve your mindset first.

2. Define your counter-mindsets

Mindsets are shaped by past experiences and emotional milestones, and mentalities that don't produce the results you want are called counter-mindsets. Some examples are self-doubt, restricted beliefs, and any other negative thoughts that hinder your investigation. About 65,000 thoughts run through our minds every day. Unfortunately, in the case of most people, most of them are negative. These automatic negative thoughts happen so often that you probably aren't aware of them (most of us aren't). Do you know that little voice that points to irresponsible spending choices and makes you think twice before starting a business or thinking about changing careers. Each of us has different ants, and without us knowing it, we usually allow them to destroy our dreams. It's hard to stay positive when that little sound is constantly coming off. The way to start eliminating negative thoughts in your head is to start paying attention to them. Notice when you hear this insulting sound and know how frequently it happens. Most likely, you'll find that your restricted thoughts can be narrowed down to a few key topics.

3. Turn the key over

Once you've identified your most important negative thoughts, you need a way to prevent them from holding you back. A good technique for this is the so-called "keyflip", which moves thoughts from negative to positive. It took a while to get used to it, but the truth is that positive thoughts and negative thoughts can't take up the same space, so I was giving negative thoughts an eviction notice. Another method I find effective is called the "if/then" approach. Once you've identified when negative thoughts usually arise, apply a thought process that allows you to think primarily about moving beyond them. Often, take something positive just a step in the right direction is enough to stop these negative thoughts. Prepare yourself by creating a list of if/then phrases beforehand.

4. Understand the "why"

Changing your mindset requires action, because habits formed are not easy to break. This is especially true given that many of our more harmful habits and counter-mindsets originated when we were children, and we've been doing things the same way ever since. Understanding your "why" means starting over and deciding on a single goal or dream, which, when achieved, will mean transformative change. Weight loss. To be happier at work. Improve your relationship with your companion. Identify something that can have a huge impact on your life. After all, if it will take effort to achieve, it is better to make sense, right? Once you've determined why you're interested, write on paper or in a notebook why it really matters. Not on a computer... On paper in your handwriting. This is an important part of building your motivation.

5. Start with something small so you can finish the big work

This may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to change your mindset and achieve your dreams is by setting very small and completely achievable goals. If your big goal is to exercise daily, your small achievable goal is to do one push-up every day. If you want to reduce stress in your life, your small goal may be to meditate for one minute each night. If you want more affection with your loved one, your small goal may be an extra hug or kiss. How can these small goals actually have an impact? That's because massive change requires small steps, repeated daily, that create momentum and lead to positive cumulative results. The top 8% of achievers understand this, but most people never try this strategy because they think it doesn't seem worthwhile to start at this small level. Wrong! Over time, consistently achieving your small goals will form new mental habits, and this is a real progress towards renewing your thinking so that you can achieve your biggest dreams.