10 Ways to Reset Your Mindset with Carolyn Wellington

Written by Carolyn Wellington

As we draw closer to the end of 2020, let us focus our attention on a new year, a more hopeful year, a year full of new opportunities. Here are ten simple habits to incorporate into your daily lifestyle and a great way to prepare for the year ahead. 

Believe in yourself, become unstoppable, no matter what your goals are, it is time to remove your limitations, expand your thoughts, enhance your beliefs.

Move beyond your limited mindset, allowing yourself to grow and radiate. It is time to focus on YOU and become the person you truly deserve to be. 

1. Start each day with a positive thought

Every day is a new day, do not bring yesterday’s negativity into today. Focus on something positive to start your day, for example: 

• Prayer
  
• Exercise
  
• Music
  
• Positive affirmation quotes (there are lots on Google) find one that suits you and makes you feel good.

2. Begin to work on self-love/self-care

Positive mindset starts from within. Work on your positivity and watch your level of self-belief grow. 

Here are a few examples to help you on your way:

• Learn to meditate, calm your mind, and connect with yourself. Start to feel who you are. Take time to focus on all the good things you do, and all the good things people say about you. Dismiss the negatives and begin to draw on the positives. Do this daily or twice a day. You may struggle at the start, stay focused, and consistent. 

• We all love a vision board. Go ahead and create a personal vision board of your dreams and goals, include pictures of things you already have and that you are grateful for in your life right now. 

3. Develop your self-confidence

Start believing in your abilities to achieve. Believe you can do it. Even though sometimes things may seem impossible, believe and repeat to yourself ‘it is possible, I can do this’. Decide to overcome your fear and take that first step. Reward yourself for taking this bold step forward. Repeat this daily it will get easier. 

We all have fears, learning to believe in yourself and building on your confidence, knowing anything is possible! 

4. Practice forgiveness

To be able to forgive is vital for your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Holding grudges and resentment only hurts you, preventing you from moving forward. Stop, take a long look at yourself, let go of toxic thoughts and feelings of the past (all the things that hold you back and hold you down. Let them go, you do not need them anymore!). 

Tell yourself daily that the past is no longer going to inhibit you. It is okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of your life journey.

5. Learn to say NO

One big lesson when changing your mindset is learning to say NO! Time to start making yourself a priority, putting yourself first. You cannot please everyone. 

Stress can be preventable when you realise it is okay to say no. Start today, if you want to say No to someone, say it and be proud of yourself.

6. Time to step out of your comfort zone 

Time to step out of your little sanctuary and challenge yourself. Sometimes your ‘no’ comes from a place of fear or uncertainty because you are unsure of what would happen if you took that step out of your comfort zone. Try saying yes to something out of the ordinary and see how it feels. 

Challenge your thoughts, your emotions, your inner beliefs that are holding you back. Try something new and feel proud, because outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens.

7. The Mirror Task

Every morning stand at your mirror and look deep into your eyes and say, ‘I approve of myself just as I am, I love myself deeply, I believe in me’. Say it with meaning. 

Positive affirmations like this can be so powerful (it may be a little challenging at first, but perseverance and consistency are key.) Stay with it and watch your self-esteem and inner confidence grow.

8. Focus on the positive things

There is no such thing as a perfect day. You will come across some challenges as the day progresses.

When you come across an obstacle or challenge, focus on working on how to overcome it, work out a solution. For example, stuck in traffic, think about something positive, something nice that you intend to do when you get home or a vacation you are planning, or even that book you have started to read and enjoy.

9. Focus on the present

Focus on this exact moment, the moment you are in right now. You may be arguing with your work colleague, who may be saying some terrible and hurtful things. Let the words go they are already in the past. It is not a reflection of who you are it reflects the person speaking those words. If you hold on to them, it only brings you stress and negativity. Stay in the present moment and be true to yourself.

Remember, a positive mindset is more powerful than a negative one. 

Ways to help you stay present:

• Focus on your breathing (slow and steady – in through your nose, out through your mouth)

• Let go of the past.

• When you catch yourself doing something out of habit STOP, check yourself remember to stay focused on the moment.

10. Make better decisions

Decision making is an enormous key to a positive mindset shift and success. You make decisions every day they either take you closer to your goals or further away. Starting today, take your time when making your decisions, make sure they are working for you, not against you. Ask yourself, are the decisions I am making taking me closer to where I genuinely want to be in life?

You are in control of the choices and decisions you make. Stay in your lane and stay on course to becoming the BEST you can be.

A positive and growth mindset shift together with your imagination, your thoughts and your efforts can create happiness, opportunities, and success. It all begins with you and the decisions you make to either catapult forward or stay where you are. You have control of your mind, your actions, your achievements.

I am not saying it is easy, it takes effort, self-discipline, commitment, consistency, and inner strength, so take it slow, one step at a time.

Do not overwhelm yourself with all ten habits, focus on one or two for a month, and slowly they will begin to become a part of your day-to-day routine. Add another and keep working gradually until all the above habits become part of your daily life.