How to Shift Your Mindset

Who’s going to win: your negative mindset or the powerful you? Your brain leans towards the negative because negativity is much easier for your brain to latch onto than positivity.

When you take small steps (rather than big leaps) moving from negativity to positivity you begin to reprogram your brain until eventually your negative voice is just occasional background noise in your head.

So if you want to shift away from negativity and embrace positivity, it’s time to reprogram your brain, but just how the heck do you do that?

My change from negativity to positivity began gradually. It started when I signed up for yoga teacher training. I’d been working as an accountant for many years, it was a job I was good at, but I didn’t enjoy the work. I’d be so miserable every night when I got home from work. My only solace was Tuesdays nights when I took a yoga class on my way home.

Yoga helped me feel better, it was a space where I could feel calm and leave my anxiety at the door. So I thought having more yoga in my life would be a good thing and I signed up for yoga teacher training.

I didn’t notice a change at first, I was still my awkward self, trying to blend in, trying not saying the wrong thing, and laser focused on the negative side of things.

Then a few things happened. One of the women in my teacher training taught me the squeegee method: when you notice a negative thought pop up you visualize the negative thought like condensation on a shower wall and then take an imaginary squeegee to it, like you’re cleaning the condensation and sending the thought away and down the drain. It helps to fully visualize the squeegee, what color might yours be?

The training gave me a sense of purpose and cultivated confidence in me. I'd wanted to be a yoga teacher for a long time, and I knew I loved teaching and coaching people. Learning those skills gave me a purpose I’d never had before.

I began to see a difference in my physical strength. I practiced yoga a lot more, so having stronger muscles made me feel more confident in my body.

One of my limiting beliefs was that I was terrible at memorization. Through my teacher training I learned a set sequence that I could teach again and again. It gave me the confidence that I could teach anywhere and be successful. Here we are nine years later, I still know that sequence and base my classes off of it.

The powerful me began to step forward more and more. I made the bold decision to leave my day job so I could teach more yoga. I became more curious and connected back to my journaling practice. With increased confidence, awearness of my thoughts, and the power of journaling, the negative voice in my head got quieter. She’s not totally gone, but she’s waaaaaaay more manageable. When she pops up, I’ve got the squeegee method to help her fade away.

When has the powerful you stepped forward?

What matters most when you’re reprogramming your brain towards positivity is shifting towards the next best feeling. When you try to jump towards something that feels impossible it will be impossible, so give yourself permission to start small.

First, notice when your inner critic or negative thoughts pop up.

Then, breathe into those thoughts.

You can ask yourself, do these thoughts support my powerful self?

If the answer is no, then ask, what would support my powerful self in this moment?

Take small simple steps. Change doesn’t happen instantly overnight, it’s something that comes with time and practice.

Over time it’ll feel like a whole new side of you has permission to show up and speak.

If you feel stuck in negativity, there's nothing wrong with you, it's completely normal to feel that way. Why? Because our brains are wired to focus on the negative, it's part of our survival mechanism.

That means it's not your fault if you feel stuck, confused, or frustrated.

Those are all normal feelings to have.

If you're wanting some solid steps to bring more positive thoughts into your head, then I invite you to join me for a customized affirmation session. Where we'll take the negative thoughts that are plaguing you like annoying mosquitoes and transform them into positive intentions that will have you feeling better, less stuck, and less bothered by the things that irk you on a daily basis.

Let's remove those irks form your day and create positive intentions together. Get started here.

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