The Brain That Changes Itself<\/em><\/a>, Dr. Norman Doidge delves deep into neuroplasticity, or the brain\u2019s ability to rapidly evolve in response to trauma, stimulus or even to our own thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour brain can change itself, grow new cells, change its patterns, and you can choose if you want to take advantage of that. That\u2019s so exciting, and means that no matter where you are starting from, you\u2019re not stuck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to start that shift:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat feels possible? Am I open to trying this new thing? What would happen if this thing changed?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you can imagine what life might be after this change, you\u2019re more likely to put in the work. It\u2019s important to recognise that what you\u2019re doing takes work, it isn\u2019t easy, and it requires energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember that it\u2019s not about waking up every day and asking yourself very seriously how you can evolve into a better person, but staying aware of what you\u2019re accepting for yourself and where you could stretch a little further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This shift is very much tied to mindfulness, and there\u2019s even progress to be made just in noticing<\/em> that you have a fixed mindset about something. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou don\u2019t have to start working on it immediately, you can just acknowledge that and come back to it when it\u2019s a priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not everything needs action right away \u2014 you have to prioritize and you can only put your energy in so many places. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe trick here is to understand why<\/em> you\u2019re trying to make these changes, to have a firm grasp on the purpose that\u2019s driving all this work (and it is work \u2014 it takes sustained effort over time and a lot of perseverance through discomfort and tedium). <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you know that you\u2019re trying to change your eating habits so that you set a healthy example for your kids, that\u2019s going to keep you going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you know that you\u2019re trying to stick to a workout routine so that you can look after your aging parents instead of having to put them in care, you\u2019re going to be very deeply motivated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It doesn\u2019t even have to be such a big reason \u2014 just to feel good in your skin and that you are prioritizing your own wellbeing is a powerful driver. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, prioritizing your own wellbeing doesn\u2019t sound like a big deal\u2026 but it can be, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to Do When Your Loved Ones Have A Fixed Mindset<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s hard when people don\u2019t want you to change \u2014 they like you as you are, and if you change it means that your dynamic will change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if they don\u2019t make any change themselves, they will be impacted to some degree by your changes. Your decision to eat more veggies doesn\u2019t make anyone else a bad person, but it can make them feel bad anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key here is communication. If people around you do get upset about the changes you\u2019re making, be clear that you\u2019re making these changes for you<\/em>. Let them know that it\u2019s not about them and that making a change for yourself doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re judging them. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is not easy. Most of us care a lot about what our loved ones think about us. I know I care deeply what people think, and even though I try really hard to worry less about it, I know I just have to acknowledge it and keep going anyway. Eventually it just comes down to taking a hard look at your own life and understanding what the cost will be if you don\u2019t make this change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, it\u2019s important to be sensitive to how people are responding to you, to use language that\u2019s as non-judgemental as possible and that will ultimately help them to support you \u2014 or at least to give you the room to do what you need to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In all, developing a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset is about recognizing what\u2019s possible and giving yourself permission to reach for those possibilities. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s about choosing to see yourself as a beautiful work in progress, to appreciate how far you\u2019ve come and to look forward to where you\u2019re going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s work, it takes time and energy and discipline, but developing a growth mindset is one of the most empowering and exciting things you can do for yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you believe that you are capable of change, that you are in control of how your life unfolds \u2014 that\u2019s exhilarating and opens up a whole new world of opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I\u2019d like to invite you to start shifting towards a growth mindset today, and to get a little help if you need it<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWant More Inspiration?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Check out more mental motivation, workouts, and meal inspiration on my Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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