Alan Bishop, with three ways you can avoid the chaos and develop a winning mindset.
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Any time I can share with people how to “regularly maintain a mindset” I jump at the chance. I do this on subways, ferries, car pools, or best…on airplanes.
The thing that turns me on about mindsets is the fact that those with a clear and focused mindset achieve. Those who don’t fail. When I say fail, I’m talking here about those people who fail and then quit. Because I totally EMBRACE failing as long as you fail forward.
I heard a person once say, “at times it feels like some rabid squirrel is running around inside my head making my decisions for me.” Those were his exact words. It seems to me crazed squirrels are running around in most of our heads. And if you free the squirrels, you free your mind. Until then, chaos will rule.
Here are 3 key tools that I’ve found help me keep a winning mindset no matter what the situation.
1) My line in the sand.
There are many heroic images of men and women drawing this so called “line in the sand”.
One of the most famous might be the US Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima. It was their line in the sand. They fought for it, over it and claimed it.
My line in the sand is the place I won’t dip under. It’s my point of neutrality. I’ll do everything in my power to not go below this point. I may take a couple days off my clean eating, workout schedule, creative development, blogging etc, but I won’t ever go below this line.
2) My commitments frame my mindset.
I have four commitments that have framed my entire year. It’s crazy to think that way but it’s true. Four commitments which are constantly on my mind. Daily, I’m working on each one with focused intent.
Each choice I make to meet my commitments is a VICTORY. This is so important. These choices are what put me in the correct mindset to meet any challenge I come up against. I’m honouring these specific 4 commitments but that doesn’t mean other challenges, tasks, duties or jobs don’t come up on a daily basis as well.
It’s my mindset which allows me to have multiple wins each day.
3) Small daily actions
You MUST make movement.
You MUST become a “Doer.”
You MUST take action.
Actions allow you to experience life in all its Good, Bad and Ugly glory. Actions prepare you for the future.
Think back to when you were a kid or if you can’t remember that far back, think about when you’re teaching your kids. Remember this scenario…“Don’t touch the stove it’s HOT”. How did you really know that the “Stove was hot”? You may have believed your parents for a certain amount of time but at some point your curiosity got the better of you and you reached out to touch it. It doesn’t matter how many times your parents warned you. You still wanted and needed to experience what “Hot” means.
One of two things happened. Either OUCH… or you saved yourself from the burn because you stopped when your hand felt the heat. (I, by the way, totally burnt myself).
“Action expresses priorities” – Mahatma Gandhi
The point is you took ACTION. You experienced a new learning that forever changed your mindset.
Oh, and about that squirrel.
It’s in there. It’s in all of our heads. At times it’s hibernating, content with the store of nuts its worked so hard to collect but it’s always there. The above 3 tools will help to unlock your mind and free that squirrel. I know because I’ve freed mine and know exactly where he is.
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photo: stanrandom / flickr
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