Hello! Let’s delve into a subject that holds the key to fast-track the manifestation of your ideal life – the significant role that mindset plays in reshaping your reality. How does your thinking influence the results when it comes to launching your business? How can you leverage the power of mindset to set up a profitable enterprise and bid farewell to a mediocre life? Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Mindset: A Powerful Catalyst for Success
First, let’s clarify what we mean by “mindset”. Mindset is the collection of beliefs and thoughts that influence how you understand yourself and your abilities. It’s how you interpret your experiences and predict your future. It’s the lens through which you view the world and, more importantly, yourself.
Two types of mindsets usually dominate your thinking: fixed and growth. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities and talents are static. On the other hand, those with a growth mindset see potential for development and learning. They believe they can get better with practice and time. It is this growth mindset that is a driving force for achieving goals.
What is less considered is that the lens by which you view the world is largely driven by your subconscious mind, therefore you are mostly unaware of how you REALLY think and feel about certain situations, yet your behaviour will be driven by those subconscious thoughts and feelings.
You may have a conscious thought that you can pivot from a steady job in the city to become a established entrepreneur (growth mindset), but outside of your awareness you may hold a counter belief that it is risky to be self-employed (fixed mindset) and this mismatch of beliefs creates a tug of war in the psyche.
This shows up as continually trying to do something, like launch a new business idea and, no matter what you try to do, you always face setbacks which mean the goal does not materialise for you.
The Role of Mindset in Goal Achievement
But why is mindset so critical in achieving your goal to launch and scale a profitable business? Well, it’s all about perception. Your mindset determines how you perceive challenges, failures, and successes. And these perceptions impact your actions, which ultimately determine whether you reach your goal or not.
Let’s say you’re trying to master a new skill that is critical to get your business off the ground. If you have a fixed mindset, you may give up at the first sign of difficulty, believing you’re simply not capable. But with a growth mindset, you’re likely to view that same challenge as a stepping stone to progress. You see it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve.
When there is a mixture of growth and fixed mindsets at play this can create a stop/start pattern of taking action, that feels super frustrating and can leave you really doubting yourself.
Imagine you are sitting in a car and the destination is to leave your corporate career behind and walk into a profitable business that you have launched and scaled. As you make this journey you have one foot on the accelerator (this is your conscious mind) and the other foot pressed down firmly on the break (this is your subconscious mind).
How far do you think you can travel under those circumstances?
Now think what will happen when you take your foot off of the break (clear any unhelpful subconscious perceptions you hold about yourself and your business launch), how far do you think you can go then?
Of course progress will be faster and it will be a lot more exciting, because you will see the scenery change quickly around you and the positive results will manifest in real time.
If you do not bring the subconscious mind into alignment then, as you start to take action in your business, the subconscious mind will throw up all sorts of negative feelings and sabotaging thoughts. And it’s these thoughts and feelings that will really put a spanner in the works with making rhythmic progress on a day-to-day basis.
This is why it is critical to work with both the conscious and subconscious minds when launching your business, to clear any internal obstacles that are currently outside of your awareness and optimise your chance of reaching your goal.
Within Psychodynamic coaching we use those challenges as clues as to where the conscious and subconscious mind need to be brought into alignment and then use tools to integrate the two, which expedites your progress ten-fold.
The Positive Thinking Trap
Many of us are familiar with the phrase “positive thinking”. But does it really make a difference?
The answer is yes and no.
When positive thinking isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges or sugar-coating reality it can be really beneficial to help you take action, even when things are not happening the way you initially envisioned.
In this respect it is about approaching those difficulties with a positive and productive attitude. It’s about believing in your ability to overcome obstacles. It’s about viewing failures not as the end of the road, but as learning experiences that can lead to improvement and success.
However, when a positive mindset is celebrated to the extent of not allowing any negative feelings to be present, then it becomes counter-productive.
You see, your mind is not just your thoughts, but also comprises your feelings as well.
When you try to be happy all the time, to the extent of pushing down and ignoring negative feelings, then those negative feelings remain in the body where they build up pressure.
If you keep on ignoring them, the same amount of energy that would have been expressed externally will be expressed internally, causing havoc on the mind and body. This will be experienced as an inability to make decisions, a racing thoughts or even unexplainable aches and pains in the body.
If, however, you allow those emotions to be present in a safe and controlled manner then, not only do they do no harm, but they will also teach you invaluable wisdom about yourself and the journey you are undertaking.
It is these insights that will help you to make the best decisions for your life and your business, because those decisions would have been reached using all the available information that was present to you at the time (conscious, subconscious and emotion).
So, people with a positive mindset are more likely to set and maintain progress towards their goals. They have greater resilience, bouncing back from setbacks rather than letting them derail their efforts. When you couple this with an ability to tune into and process uncomfortable emotions, then you have a powerful combination for success.
Shaping Your Mindset
So, how can you shape your mindset to better achieve your goals? Here are a few steps to get you started.
1. Embrace a Growth Mindset
The first step is to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Cultivate a love for learning and a resilience in the face of setbacks.
2. Reframe Your Thoughts
Start paying attention to your thought patterns. Are they mostly negative or positive? Do you often say, “I can’t” or, “I’ll try”? Practice reframing negative thoughts into positive ones. For example, instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” say, “I’ll learn how to do this.”
A willingness to try creates just enough space to see the positive outcome as a possibility and this fresh perspective should give you just enough of a boost to get you started.
3. Set Realistic Goals
Set achievable goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This not only gives you a clear path forward but also helps build your self-confidence as you reach each milestone.
You will know if a goal feels just right, as it will stretch you just enough so that it feels exciting, but doesn’t leave you so overwhelmed as to trigger dysregulation in the body.
Dysregulation in the body means that your fight or flight mechanism has been activated and this may manifest as picking fights with your loved ones or reaching for self-soothing mechanisms, like drinking, shopping or scrolling online.
Within Become the Brand we help you to get a feel for the size of your goal and put an end to any sabotaging behaviour.
4. Practice Self-Compassion
Be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes or setbacks. Instead, treat them as learning opportunities. Remember, progress, not perfection, is the goal.
This is another area where you may need to bring the subconscious mind into alignment, as many people hold negative views about themselves that are outside of their awareness.
One way to determine if this may be the case is to see how you speak to yourself when setbacks do happen. If you become overly condescending towards yourself then that is a sure fire sign there is work to do on your mindset at the subconscious level.
5. Surround Yourself with Positivity
Your environment can greatly influence your mindset. Surround yourself with positive people and situations. Engage with those who inspire you, motivate you, and challenge you to grow. A supportive environment can provide the encouragement and drive needed to reach your goals.
It is useful to recognise that the people who are present in your life right now may not be the most supportive of your new ideas for your life. As you work towards your lofty goals they may become triggered out of a fear of being left behind.
And because you become the 5 people that you associate most closely with, it is helpful to find a group of likeminded people who are on a similar path and can support you in this journey to become, have and do more.
6. Develop a Gratitude Practice
Studies have shown that gratitude can significantly influence your mindset. It helps you to focus on what you have rather than what you lack. It promotes feelings of contentment and reduces comparisons with others. Consider keeping a gratitude journal, where you note down things for which you’re grateful each day.
Mindset and Perseverance: Partners in Success
Perseverance is another significant element in a victorious business launch, and it’s closely linked with mindset. Perseverance is about persisting in your efforts despite difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. And what fuels this relentless determination? A positive, growth-oriented mindset.
People with a growth mindset are more likely to persevere because they view challenges as opportunities rather than roadblocks. They understand that effort is a necessary component of success, and they’re willing to put in that effort, no matter how tough things get.
Wrapping Up: The Mindset-Goal Connection
Achieving goals isn’t just about setting them; it’s also about the journey to reach them. Your mindset plays a pivotal role in this journey. It influences how you face challenges, how you react to failures, how you perceive your abilities, and ultimately, whether or not you achieve your goals.
In essence, your mindset can be your most powerful tool in launching a successful business. By cultivating a positive, growth-oriented mindset at both the conscious and subconscious levels, you equip yourself with the resilience, perseverance, and determination needed to reach your goals. Remember, it’s not just about the destination, but also about the journey. And with the right mindset, this journey can be an enriching experience filled with growth, learning, and success.
So, let’s cultivate a mindset that empowers you, that fuels your drive, and that propels you towards your goals. After all, your mindset is the magic key to unlocking your potential and achieving your dreams.
Thanks for joining me on this exploration of the power of mindset. Here’s to achieving all your goals, one positive thought at a time!
And if you’d like to find out how ready your mind is to ensure your successf use the button below to get access to the 13 Qualities You Need to Launch and Scale a Successful Business.