The definition of ‘success’ is open to interpretation and means different things to different people. For some, success can be measured by financial wealth, professional achievements and educational accomplishments or releasing weight. Whatever the personal definition of success one has, there are fundamental principles that apply to the process involved in achieving it. One of these principles is that, for success to manifest in the physical world, the mind needs a preconceived idea of what success means to the individual. A person’s mindset can have a huge impact on how ‘successful’ they will be in their pursuits.
Here are some tips for developing a mindset for success:
1. Create a vision.
Creating a vision of what success looks like for you is the first step towards developing a success mindset. A vision entails a detailed analysis and mental projection of your goals and dreams, the kind of life you desire to lead and the people you wish to associate yourself with. Creating a vision works like a magnet pulling the things you desire towards you and equipping you with the perseverance to pursue your goals. Goals should be ‘SMART’ i.e. broken down into small, manageable, achievable, actionable, realistic and subject to timescales. Goals also should be factored into your daily, weekly and monthly planning and reviews. The process of achieving smaller chunks of a bigger goal on a regular basis builds confidence and motivation. It also creates flexibility and makes it easier to adjust your vision in alignment with the ever-changing environment in which we live and our ever -changing circumstances.
2. Adopt a positive attitude.
Positive thinking means focusing on the brighter side of life’s events instead of dwelling on the negative aspects. It is vital to interpret events in a way that will positively enhance your life. In the face of a challenging situation, looking on its brighter side equips us with the tools we need to come up with workable solutions to handle the problem. Negativity, however, blocks channels of creativity and creates a sense of defeat. Positive thinking helps us overcome our fear of failure. A belief in failure tends to create events that lead to failure.
Developing a positive outlook is actually much easier than some people expect. An effective tactic for training your mind to think positively is accepting yourself warts and all, engaging in encouraging self-talk and being kind to yourself. Doing this daily will help to gradually replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Try commending yourself for your achievements no matter how big or small, and cheering yourself on when you find yourself in difficult situations.
Meditation is another powerful way to promote positive thinking. By calming the mind and repeating positive mantras, the subconscious is fed with nourishing thoughts which manifest as success in the physical world.
3. Seek inspiration.
Inspiration motivates us to pursue our goals and to keep moving forward. Sources of Inspiration are all around us, we just need to be open to them. We may take inspiration from others who have accomplished similar goals to our own. Thus, we choose to draw inspiration from their perseverance, resilience, and successes. Inspiration keeps us going when our energy feels depleted.
4. Study and learn from the past.
Part of our journey to success includes reflecting on our past experiences, considering the previous mistakes we’ve made. Acknowledging and learning from our past shortcomings provides us with vital information necessary for future success. This knowledge will enhance the quality of our future decisions and enable us to deal with similar situations more effectively. Former mistakes should be a reference point for decision making and for avoiding similar potholes. Doing so means that rather than developing a fear of failure, our past experiences and the lessons they taught us give us greater confidence and wisdom. Confidence empowers us to take the correct decisive action.
Learning to change your thinking patterns can have a hugely beneficial effect on your ability to succeed, so start working on your success mindset today!
I would love to hear what you think and believe about success – please contact me here.
