We all know the importance of strong mental habits, but how do you know you need to work on your mindset?
What are the dead give-aways which I see in myself and my clients that suggest some work is needed if we are to achieve our business results?
Firstly, I have two overall indicators.
The first overall indicator is your FEELINGS. If you are not feeling resourceful emotions such as passion, creativity, love, excitement, joy, determination on a regular basis, you know there are some patterns in your thinking that need to be explored.
Another overall indicator is your RESULTS. Take a look at your business results in the last 6-12 months. Are you achieving your goals?
If your thinking causes your feelings, which drive your actions, which create your results, it’s clear that everything you are creating on a regular basis is a direct manifestation of your thoughts.
However, often the thoughts can be subtle or even unconscious.
We can often feel we are just observing facts and circumstances when in reality we have some mental patterns in our thinking that are causing harmful feelings and poor execution.
Sign #1- Thinking I’ll be happier because of achievement.
Why is this an issue?
Aren’t we meant to feel happy when we achieve?
Let me explain.
If you have followed my work for a while you know that it is of course our THOUGHTS about the circumstances that determine how you feel. Therefore thinking ‘I will be happier in my achievement’ allows me to forget this truth.
For sure, you should be happy when you achieve, just remember it is your thoughts about the achievement which are driving those feelings of happiness.
We can get very discouraged and disappointed when we hold onto the belief that results are the source of our happiness.
The truth is, we will just about always have the same level of happiness because as success grows, so do our challenges. We will always have the next hill to climb and the next challenge to face.
You are at full capacity to be 100% happy right now no matter where you are in your life because it comes from your thoughts, not your circumstances.
To top it off, Tony Robbins suggests that we don’t always get what we want, but we often we get something better. We find a deep reason to grow, love, serve, contribute and we find out what we are really capable of.
#2- Thinking: ‘I should be further along’
This thought can be one that creeps in, especially if you see others achieving around you.
I find a lot of my clients continue to question why they haven’t ‘made it’ yet. They question what it is about them, their approach, their characteristics, and they fixate on what they have done wrong.
This can lead to very strong emotions of regret, disappointment, anger and frustration.
The truth is you have no clue as to where you ‘should’ be. As Byron Katie would say ‘who needs God when you have your opinion?’
You have no idea what will be the best path for your wellbeing. However, I find that those who can’t handle the tough road need to find an empowering meaning in it before they find success.
Why?
Because I’d rather someone struggle now, get strong, learn the tools of loving themselves every step of the way instead of striking it big and losing it all. If you can’t handle the tough times, massive failure will be a devastating blow that you take personally.
#3- Pursuing achievement because I feel lack of it
This may even be the reason why you started your journey in the first place. I feel it myself at times also.
I feel scarce with clients, an audience and low on impact. A major source of this feeling is money and finances.
As entrepreneurs we want the freedom to travel, set our own schedule, and earn an income that gives us a lifestyle of wealth.
However as you feel the lack of those in your life, you will be working on your business with a lack of emotional resourcefulness. Another hint is that you are doing what you can to make a SALE rather than focusing on how you can add value and grow through the experience.
If you are to succeed in business and also create a life of wellbeing, you have to build the emotional muscles that drive you to be resourceful regardless of what’s happening around you.
So this brings us to my final point, and although many of you have heard this many times, it’s worth repeating.
What determines your results and quality of life is MEANING.
Let’s be honest, some things that happen to us are out of our control. Some cold calls go poorly, some people will reject us, and others will hate our ideas. We can fall flat on the floor with little direction and not know what to do next.
Regardless of what happens, what you will ALWAYS have control over is the meaning you give it. That is the game changer right there.
Your ability to find an empowering meaning in your journey and why it is you chose this path will determine whether your disempowering emotions will take hold of you, or whether your courage, love and persistence will prevail.
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