A growth mindset rests in the fact that no matter what happens, YOU will always be okay, and able to rebound from any ‘failures’ (and turn them into lessons!) To really embody a growth mindset, it’s essential you have some tools and practices to support you. “Life-changing” can be a grand statement, but each of these transformational growth mindset tools has radically changed my life, and the lives of many of my clients. The beauty of a growth mindset is that it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving. By investing some dedicated time each day to work on your mindset, if even for 10-15 minutes, you will see radical results.
Let’s begin by getting on the same page: what is a growth mindset + what’s the big deal about it anyway?
What is a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is focused on the future, and continual self-improvement, rather than weighing itself down by what happened in the past or fixating on negativity.
It’s really important to outline that this does not mean that you always have to be positive, even in the wake of tragic or dark times. That’s toxic positivity and doesn’t actually heal. Conversely, a resilient growth-focused mindset is an ethos that focuses more on solutions rather than problems.
When you’re aligned with a growth mindset, you’re more likely to…
- Embrace that learning is a lifelong habit
- See ‘failures’ as temporary setbacks
- View feedback as a chance to learn + receive new information
- Engage in healthy and constructive self-talk
It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Let’s now dive into my top 7 tools and techniques for cultivating a growth mindset.
#1 – Start a Journal
To ‘keep a journal’ simply involves regularly taking the time to extract your thoughts from your mind to put them in a safe place. That could be a sacred private notebook, a note on your phone, or a digital document on your computer. The medium doesn’t matter; the practice does.
Journaling allows you to stop a story you’re playing out in your mind, causing you to really take a moment and ponder if this story is really true for you or if it’s simply a story you’re telling yourself (or an external narrative you have adopted). This allows you to really grow through what is no longer serving you.
This also allows you to release thoughts that are occupying valuable brain space for you so you can get back to focusing on what matters most to you.
Oh, and by the way… there are so many other beautiful benefits to journaling, too! Such as:
- A greater ability to cope with feelings of anxiety, depression and stress.
- Improving immune function.
- Supporting cognitive processing and memory.
- A greater sense of optimism
- Organizing our thoughts to boost productivity
- Raising awareness to our subconscious thought patterns so we can create sustainable change.
Explore the beautiful benefits of journaling + get a roadmap on how to get started in this post
#2 – Develop a Daily Meditative Practice
Time each day to quiet your mind allows you to create time to connect with your highest self. It opens you up to listening more; to the wisdom of your highest self and the universe.
There’s a major misconception that the only way to meditate is to sit in absolute stillness and silence, but that’s not true! Meditation is simply quieting the mind, and can be done however feels good to you.
For example, I like to do walking meditations, where I walk through the woods alone, without headphones or external distractions. I pay attention to my surroundings, allowing my nose to smell the environment and my eyes to take in the beauty around me. It’s in these walking meditations that I become mindfully aware of the power of my body and mind, and where I have the best creative breakthroughs.
Other ways to practice meditation can include yoga, or using tools like oracle and affirmation cards.
#3 – Learn To Distance Yourself From Your Thoughts
As someone who has experienced chronic anxiety for alot of my life, this has probably been the most transformational practice for me and my mindset… becoming the observer of my thoughts and knowing that I am not the voice in my head.
As one of my greatest teachers and mentors, Byron Katie says, ” If the voice in your head is you, who is the one listening to it?”
Katie’s “The Work” is a series of 4 questions that allow us to inquire into our thoughts before becoming attached to them and creating narratives from them that distract and don’t serve us. Those 4 questions have become absolutely integral to my growth mindset. “The Work” comes when you have a disruptive thought that is not serving you. You stop + ask…
- Is it true?
- Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
- How do you react when you believe that thought?
- Who would you be without the thought?
#4 – Create “Bookend” Rituals
… One for the beginning of your day, and one for the end of your day. Consider how much time you have to dedicate to this practice for yourself, and create your ritual accordingly. For example, your morning ritual could be as simple as the time you take to get ready for the day, plus adding a few moments for meditation and journaling. Or, if you have time or energy to dedicate longer to the practice, perhaps you add in exercise, or other feel-good rituals that serve you.
Understand all about morning routines + how to create one of your own in this post!
#5 – “Cut Cords” When Needed
Cord-cutting is a practice where you imagine cutting a cord, tethering you to people, thoughts or experiences that you are ready to let go of energetically. For many highly sensitive individuals(myself included!), this is a daily practice as it allows you to clear yourself of the energy of others that you regularly pick up on.
To make the experience more visceral, you could have a physical way of cutting the cord. For example, having a ball of yarn or twine that you physically cut. For myself, I use a selenite wand and image cutting the cord but physically move the selenite to ‘cut’ that cord.
#6 – Intentionally Interrupt Negative Thoughts + Patterns
Caught up in a negative thought loop? If you’re able to, get up and move to physically distribute that energy from your body, and intentionally interrupt the thought that isn’t serving you. Even getting up to do the dishes can do the trick! Intentionally stop what you’re doing and move as much as you are able to.
Then, take the time to swap that thought with something more empowering that you would like to believe.
Stop + Swap, baby!
#7 – Feed Your Mind Daily
Take time each day to read or listen to something that enriches your mind allows you to build up thoughts and beliefs that align with your growth mindset.
Always have a mindset/ personal development book on the go – because that way, you have something you can open and inspire you first thing in the morning and throughout the day. When you want to go and scroll on Facebook or Instagram and waste an hour mindlessly scrolling (in turn feeling worse about yourself), pick up your book!
Another idea: if you’re a busy parent on the go, work a desk job, or otherwise just don’t have time throughout the day to pull out a physical book, consider listening to an audiobook instead!
Need a book rec? Try one of these!
Develop Your Growth Mindset With Journaling…
… with this free downloadable digital journal + 70 guided prompts that allow you to build a resilient growth mindset! Download now
Learn More About Growth Mindset…
Transformational Affirmations and Mantras
Why a Growth Mindset is Essential to Entrepreneurship
Questions? Comments? I'm all ears! Share your thoughts below...