Is your mindset bringing out your best?
Our mindset influences everything we do. It governs the way we think about ourselves, the way we view the world, the way we conduct ourselves, and our capacity to dream big. A positive attitude and a resilient mindset will have a huge impact on your career and your potential in life.
Is your mindset working in your favour? Here are 4 ways to leverage your mindset and unleash your potential:
1. Take Action
You will never know what you’re truly capable of unless you take a risk and have a go. Getting off the sidelines and onto the paying field will motivate you, develop your strengths bring you closer to reaching your goals. But what can you do you when you feel stuck?
• Movement and exercise – If you’re lacking momentum in your career or personal life, an easy way to shift the energy and move forward is to literally move your body. It can be as simple as getting up from behind your desk to stretch. Even better, go for a brisk walk or take a dance break! Exercise stimulates your brain with natural mood-boosting endorphins, reducing stress and giving you easier access to your own ideas, decisions and solutions. Make regular exercise a non-negotiable part of your schedule.
• Smiling – Happiness can actually help you realize your potential. Studies have shown that negativity prevents your brain from recognizing new opportunities, whereas happiness makes you more receptive to options, choices and possibilities. Naturally there will be times when you don’t feel particularly happy, but did you know that deliberate smiling triggers the same happiness or pleasure response in your brain as spontaneous smiling? Put “smile” on your to-do list .
2. Harness Your Mind-Power
Your mind is powerful. Sometimes it may seem difficult to master your thoughts, overcome challenges and rise above negativity, but you always have a choice. With awareness, intention and practice, you can take control of your attitude and harness your mindset for greater personal and professional success.
• Thought mastery – Choose your thoughts wisely. Coaching yourself into a positive state of mind is a learnable skill and a discipline practiced by highly successful people. Focus on your strengths and abilities, believe in yourself and replace negative thinking with positive “I can”, “I will” and “I am” affirmations.
• Visualisation – Your brain has an amazing ability to create new neural pathways and master new skills through physical practice and repetition. Studies have proven that the human brain responds to visualisation of practice and repetition in the exact same way. Use visualisation to help you prepare for speaking engagements, sales pitches, sports competitions or any situation where you need to perform at your best.
3. Find Your Confidence
Confidence leads to success. When you’re truly in your power, you are more likely to set the bar high, take action, conquer your fears, exceed your limits and achieve your goals. Do you feel great about yourself right now? What makes you feel confident?
• Personal Branding – How would you describe your best self? What sets you apart from the crowd? What’s your purpose? Developing your personal brand will help you find your confidence. Think about what makes you exceptional and maximise on your strengths. Also think about how you want to be remembered and take charge of your image.
• Power Dressing – No, I don’t mean 80’s shoulder pads and a masculine haircut (unless that’s your brand). I mean dressing in a way that empowers you. When you look good, you feel great and your confidence shows. The way you dress and present yourself communicates a lot about who you are, so take pride in your image and make sure that it reflects your personality and credentials. Looking polished and making clever wardrobe choices will start you day on the right foot.
4. Extend Your Focus Outwards
The first three approaches to bringing out your best focus on You. This last approach is about taking the attention off of yourself and extending your focus out towards your network and your community.
• Win-win scenarios – Kindness and caring about others always brings out the best in people. In business, and in all aspects of life, look to create win-win scenarios where there is a positive outcome available to everyone involved. Success does not need to be a competition. By making authentic connections and working together, we can take our collective dreams further and have more fun along the way.
• Mentoring – If you really want to realise your potential, be generous. Believe in yourself and share your expertise with others. Stepping into the role of mentor requires you to face your own brilliance while you continue to learn and grow. Mentoring will bring out the best in others and give you the opportunity to shine.
When you surround yourself with positive people, the sky is the limit!
About the author
Melissa Lewis
Melissa Lewis is the founder of Style Confidante which is the umbrella for all things empowering the business women to stand out for all the right reasons.
Her passion and drive working with intelligent, driven, down to earth women and turning them into more confident women has led to the development of her consulting business and she now works with corporations and with women giving them further confidence, presence and style. Being so much more than clothes, Melissa empowers women to really get clear on mindset, focus on knowing and leveraging their gifts and then building a support team of talented women.
With years of hands on experience, qualifications in business, property and professional image styling, Melissa understands the lifestyle of busy professional women.
