Mindset is everything.

When I started my first business, I took classes from every mentor I could, trying to piece together the formula for success. I’ve always been a self-help junkie, so if there’s a book or training about something I’m interested in, I latch on and try to absorb.

I heard that phrase repeatedly – Mindset is everything. I knew it. I adopted it as my own mantra. But I never thought much about what it meant. It’s only been recently that I’ve made it a regular focus of my life to truly hone in on achieving what I set out to accomplish.

What is Mindset?

Mindset is nothing more than an internal set of beliefs that shape how you personally make sense of the world and exist within it. It’s what influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation.

You can see mindset at work on a daily basis. You don’t have to look further than the pandemic to see what held some back, others used to have the best career advancements of their lives.

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck is a leading expert on mindset, having written multiple books on the subject. She believes there are two basic mindsets: fixed and growth.

If you have a fixed mindset, you believe your abilities are fixed – your destiny is predetermined, written in the stars, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. You’ll witness this in people who feel they are “stuck” because of their genes, their role in society, or their upbringing. There’s nothing they can do to shift away from who they are.

A growth mindset believes that all talents and abilities can be developed through effort and persistence. You have the ability to become whoever you choose simply by taking action in the right direction.

A fixed mindset believes I am who I am, and I can’t change it.

A growth mindset believes I am constantly evolving.

A fixed mindset believes working hard proves you don’t have the ability to do something.

A growth mindset believes being challenged helps you become a better version of yourself.

Growth mindsets in action

If you’re still reading, congratulations. You have a growth mindset in place.

In my early years, I didn’t know anything about how mindset worked. I adopted the “mindset is everything” approach, and worked hard to curate a mindset to push me forward and into action.

But what I didn’t realize is how influential your mindset can be.

Mindset isn’t something that’s controlled solely by outside influences. Although that happens all the time.

Mindset is also something you can control yourself based on the information you feed it. That’s where positive affirmations work. That’s how the movie “The Secret” was created, sharing the message of the law of attraction. What you focus on is what you’ll be rewarded with.

I now believe that if you want something in the future, it starts by doing what it takes to bring your mindset on board first. The details fall into place later.

Change your midlife mindset by using affirmations

An affirmation is a word or phrase that states your reality or truth. You use it to confirm your reality of a goal, situation, or action. It’s there to be your guide to make things come true.

If you say something enough you tend to believe it.

And that’s where mindset really kicks in. Even if you think you have growth mindset in place, there’s always room to grow. I’ve been doing extra work in this area this year because I’m ready to catapult myself forward after the previous two years.

These are the mindset beliefs I’m working on now.

Believe in myself

This one sounds easy enough. But I believe it’s one we have to work on continually throughout our lives.

Believing in myself means a little self-confidence sprinkled with a little self-love.

No matter how confident I am, there’s always room for improvement. Because doubt always creeps in.

I’ve built multiple businesses over my career. But there was something about staying at home for two years that changed my approach to business growth. I’ve had a few blockages over the past two years, and I recognized it. So I’m now working with a coach to get me back on track, define my core mission, and build a plan for my future.

Already I’m seeing a huge difference in who I am and my outlook of the world.

But this all started with a core belief that I’m meant to be the best version of me. And it’s important for me to work on that ME and do what it takes to build and keep me at the top. MY Top.

Take responsibility for my future life

Every single day it’s easy to get overwhelmed with what the media tells you is out of control.

Politics. Economy. Inflation Dis-ease.

It’s all out of control.

But that’s just it – all of that is out of our control. I know I can do very little about politics or the economy.

What I do have control over is my mindset, my business, my finances, and what I offer this world.

I can’t blame a bad economy if I’m frivolous with my money and can’t build the lifestyle of my dreams. Even during the worst financial periods of time, people still built incredible businesses that made a lot of money. Anything is possible.

But the only way to get there is by believing: Only I can control my future. And I do that by taking responsibility for the actions I put forth.

Create my version of a growth mindset

I know I’m changing and growing all the time. I relish it. I accept it. I welcome it.

I’ve seen it happen throughout my life.

I became an entrepreneur, even though I had no one in my circle of influence to follow as an example. Instead, I read, attended classes, joined groups like the Chamber of Commerce, and figured out how to make a business grow.

Imagine what would have happened if I didn’t think that was possible.

Just knowing I accomplished that is all the motivation I need to push forward and believe I can continue to grow.

I sit down regularly and think about my future. Who do I want to be? What do I hope to accomplish?

I take it the next step forward, and believe I can make it so.

Do what brings me joy

This is about little things. Because it’s the little things that often bring the greatest amount of joy.

A new book to read. A candle with a delicious smell. Succulent food. A dress in my favorite color.

I don’t feel guilty when I provide a little self-care using this tool. Because I know this is what I need to be the best version of me.

It’s not selfish to do what brings you joy. Self-love is required for your best living. Because without it, you have nothing left to give.

So I ask you: What would bring you joy today?

A walk on the beach. A connection with a friend. A new dress. A smile from your daughter. Five minutes to read a great book. Booking an appointment with a hairdresser, something you’ve been putting off for weeks.

What do you need to feed your soul today, even if it’s just for a moment? It’s something I ask myself every single day.

Be the energy I want to release to the world

Energy. It’s my word for the year. And I’ve been relishing in “energy” daily for the entire year.

When I set my word for the year, I’m always surprised at how it plays out in my life.

I’ve found new energy in the groups I’ve joined, the activities I belong to, the trips I’ve planned, even the relationships I continue to grow.

What I live externally is what I bring in internally. And the process continues by allowing me to give more to what I believe in.

Say yes to connections and guidance that present themselves from the universe. I strongly believe that every answer you need presents itself in a way only you can interpret. But it takes living “eyes wide open” in order to process it and say “yes” to the most important things in your life.

Life is a journey

How many times have we heard stories about people that have hit rock bottom, only to build phenomenal lives from the ashes? It happens all the time.

We’ve chosen right now, at this point in history, to show up and be present as human beings. We’ve taken on these human lives to be able to experience the universe in a human body. And that is miraculous if you consider it for a moment.

We get 25, 50, 75, or even 100 years to experience all there is to experience right here, right now.

So why turn any of it off, and say NO to something that may excite you?

Don’t live small, LIVE BIG!

Because every single day presents another piece of the puzzle called life. What are you going to do with today’s?