Why Mindset matters...

 

How some can turn the least positive one into an amazing outcome with little or no apparent effort. Overcome all the odds. Or, at the other extreme, easily transform the most favourable one into a complete disaster. We’re sure you’ve seen it too, whether at home or work… 

 

Having worked with a huge range of Clients over more years than we’d care to mention (!), we’ve seen this in action many times. In both directions. Those facing seemingly insurmountable issues making a return to good health and a full and active life, often within an amazingly short time. Others, with a much smaller issue, just keep slipping backwards with increasing momentum. This is particularly noticeable when we see a number of Clients with a similar issue in a short period of time. They may all have the same conventional diagnosis – or “label” – but progress very differently. 

 

While part of the answer can be explained by the usual factors – diet, lifestyle, medical history and the like – this doesn’t provide the whole answer. So, it quickly became obvious to us that something else was at work and this is where Mindset comes in. 

 

At its simplest, Mindset is all about whether your glass is half full or half empty. Do you look for – and expect – the best in life? A positive outcome, helpful people and all the other things that help your life flow more easily. Or, is your focus more on the downside of life? A less than positive outcome, unhelpful people and a path littered with obstacles or resistance. “Poor me, why does this always happen to me?” 

 

It's easy to see how these two different Mindsets – default settings if you prefer – can radically change the outcome in any situation or event. How someone who expects to do well and return to full health is more likely to do so. And, sadly, how someone who expects to go downhill usually does… 

 

More importantly, it plays a key part in how easy – or not – someone finds it to make the necessary changes to help support their treatment and return to good health. Those with a more positive default setting find it much easier to do, while those at the other extreme would most likely add it to their ever growing list of reasons why they can’t – or won’t – improve. 

 

However, this is only the start as far as Mindset is concerned, but it’s an easy way to illustrate just how important it is. As with any topic, there are many more aspects and nuances, which is why we find it so interesting… 

 

And there’s another very simple aspect of Mindset that’s easy to overlook, so far as working with Clients is concerned. That it’s very much a partnership. Not only is their Mindset critical to progress, but so is the Practitioner’s. A Practitioner who can’t envision and encourage their Client to see themselves doing well and returning to good health, is going to put a huge block on their progress. Sadly, it’s one many Practitioners overlook, with their focus firmly set on the “problem” rather than the desired outcome. 

 

It’s also why it’s so important that those in close daily contact with a Client also maintain a positive focus and support, rather than simply focussing on whatever “problem” is being addressed. 

 

While we’re talking very generally about Mindset, there’s one other aspect we’d like to highlight today and is where the “Little Monster in our Heads” analogy comes in so well. Or, as some call it, our own personal radio station, broadcasting 7 days a week, 24 hours a day (!). 

 

Our Mindset runs continually, whether we’re aware of it. Colouring our lives and providing an ongoing commentary on both ourselves and whatever else we may be giving our attention to at that particular moment. Like any background noise in our lives, we quickly become used to it and tune it out. It’s still happening – and having an effect on us – we just don’t notice it any more. That’s until it changes in some way – perhaps a new noise or much louder one – then we notice it again and the process is repeated as our settings change. 

 

Unfortunately, much of this ongoing commentary is less than positive. Focussed on what’s “wrong”, whether with ourselves or what is going on around us. While it can be partly put down to our basic survival settings – looking for anything unusual or that may constitute a threat – much of it simply undermines us. Our health, happiness or whatever else we would like to live a happy life. 

 

If you’re in any doubt, just start tuning in to your own ongoing internal commentary as you go about your day. Notice how often it’s unkind and judgemental, both to yourself and those around you. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re just thinking it or expressing it, in words or deeds. The effects still ripple out to effect both you and the person / situation concerned. You’d never dream of talking to someone else like that, so why do you do it to yourself? 

 

Having left you with that little thought to mull over (!), here’s a great quote we came across recently which sums it up perfectly: 

 

“If beating ourselves up worked, we’d all be thin, rich and happy now.” 

 

Cheryl Richardson, Author and Coach 

 

And that, in a nutshell, is why Mindset matters; wherever you are in life and whatever is happening. 

 

As always, the choice is yours.