Why Mindset Matters
There’s a problem with the way we think about health and wellness.
We forget that the human body is one big connected system. If one system is weak, problems can arise in another system that may be seemingly unrelated or unconnected. But everything in our bodies affects, to a greater or lesser degree, pretty much everything else and we must look at it as a whole.
So when we decide it’s time to take action on our health, wellness or lifestyle, the first thing we must tackle if we want to have forward motion is our state of mind.
Mindset fuels motivation. It’s the gas in your tank that keeps you moving toward health. It’s near impossible to achieve real health if you’re filled with negative thoughts. Even with the best intentions, it’s difficult to make progress if your mindset isn’t something you’re consistently tending to. As soon as you put energy into nurturing your thoughts and how you speak to yourself, respect yourself and care for yourself, the rest becomes a lot easier. Mindfulness is the art of bringing your awareness into the present moment and dealing with the now.
In life, there are so many things out of our control with the one constant being change. When we think we’ve lost control and are powerless, we must remember the one thing always in our control is the power to control our own thoughts. You actually get to do that ‘cuz you’re the only one in your head with you. You get to choose how you talk to yourself. Don’t waste that choice on negative self-talk. Choose wisely, choose consciously, choose thoughtfully and with your highest and best good in mind.. Honour yourself more than you shit talk yourself. The more you do this, the less often you’ll shit talk.
Hey, no one is perfect. You’re going to shit talk yourself at some point, you’re human. But know that when you do, you also have the power to grab that thought and turn it around. Become aware it’s happening and reframe it into a kinder thought - one that chooses your health.
Examine your thoughts. How can you reframe them and make them kinder?
Example - while your belly may be causing you distress and discomfort, your energy may be through the roof.
Or while you may not be getting a full night's sleep, you may have a beautiful family and lovely home in which you get to go to bed.
Always find the kinder, more positive thought. Mindset fuels motivation. Positive energy will keep you going in the direction of your goal.
What if your thoughts are related to shame and guilt over choices you’ve made or habits you’ve created? Maybe you had a piece of cake even though you didn’t really want it or you’re stuck in a bad habit of snacking right before bed.
Shame is a focus on yourself and is highly corrosive. The chatter linked to shame is I’m bad, I’m unworthy or I’m wrong. Guilt is a focus on a behaviour. I did something bad, I did something wrong. It may be slightly less painful but it’s still painful.
When guilt and shame are out of balance they can really drain your motivation. Reminder: mindset fuels motivation.
It’s hard to make healthy choices when we’re shaming and guilting ourselves on a regular basis and it stops us from enjoying the process of whatever we’re shaming ourselves over and embracing it with grace. Instead, it forces us to focus on perfection and may even cause us to keep secrets - secrets that can be harmful to ourselves.
Do some perspective shifting if you find yourself in that place of shame or guilt and practice empathy. Empathy is the medicine for shame and guilt. You didn’t blow it so don’t blow it out of proportion. You didn’t blow it, you just had some cake.
4 Ways to Create Mindful Habits and Behaviours
Recognize that your choices aren’t failings. They’re just signs that you may need some tenderness with yourself, that’s all.
Have awareness of what’s happening. Sometimes we’re just so in it we don’t even see that we’re beating ourselves up. Awareness is the key that leads to all healing.
Give acceptance to where you are. That may be saying to yourself, I’m having that thought again and that’s ok and I love and accept myself anyway. It takes us from pushing our feelings away and just accepting them.
Create curiosity about what's underneath those so called bad choices. Journal it out. Ask yourself:
What am I really craving?
What else could satisfy these cravings or desires?
If you’re doing all of these things but you still want to do the thing you’re craving, have a healthy negotiation with yourself.
Have a healthy meal first or a glass of water. Eat the broccoli first and see if you still want the cake. And when you do have the cake or glass of wine, really taste it, savour it. Be mindful. Slow it down and enjoy it instead of cursing it or speeding through it. Do something good for yourself first.
Gratitude resets your mindset. Everyday write down 3 things you’re grateful for. Keep them specific. The more you do this practice, the more you see the cool things you’re grateful for. Write them down on a regular basis. Writing them down gets it into your bones and truly helps you reset, refresh and reboot your mindset.
And it will open up the richest, most loving conversations with yourself.
