This is one of my fav snaps with Archie after he was first adopted.
My washing machine won’t stay on.
My left ear has shooting pain, and I can’t hear out of it.
And, my dog caught a bird that flew into the window of my car.
Crap situations, right? They all happened within a few weeks, leaving me exhausted, in pain, behind on my tasks, frustrated and sad.
My head was in a bad space.
Thankfully, I was able to rescue the bird. It simply flew away with fewer feathers. And, I’m washing my essential laundry at my boyfriend’s house while I wait for my repair appointment. I was also able to take time off from my small business to visit the doctor and do three-times-a-day ear treatments.
I may feel some negative emotions around these situations, but I’ve also been able to find so much gratitude in the things that are working out.
How?
I paused and looked at my mindset.
Disclosure: This blog is reader-supported, which means this post contains affiliate links and advertisements. I earn a small commission if you shop through them, which helps fund this website so I can continue to bring you amazing content. Thank you! ~Angela
What is Mindset?
How you view your life is your mindset. This includes the assumptions you make, the expectations you set and the belief systems you embrace.
Stanford University’s Dr. Jacob Towery, an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of psychiatry, says shifting your mindset can decrease stress, boost resilience and play a role in life’s outcomes. Nice!
But, how do we make the shift? All it takes is a little thinking, acceptance and re-framing of the concerning situation.
Shifting Your Mindset
The secret is adopting what is called a “growth mindset”. This looks like shifting the focus from yourself to the actual causes and potential lessons embedded in your concerns. This allows you to reflect, learn and eventually grow from the difficult situation.
- Perhaps my washing machine was simply getting worn out, and a routine repair will fix it. I’m learning to accept that maintenance is a regular part of having appliances, even if it creates inconvenience.
- Leaving the window open in my car allowed a bird to get inside. I’ve learned that even on a hot day, it’s best to leave my windows closed. I have air conditioning to keep me cool.
- And my ear? Well, an ear infection is a common side effect of swimming. I love my pool and lake time, so I guess this is a health risk that I’m more susceptible to than non-swimmers. So, I will take precautions to minimize this potential recurring issue and accept this as a normal health protocol for frequent swimming.
Now, these concerns feel less personal.
After shifting my perspective and mindset, they are simply part of life and not “bad luck” or true annoyances. This mindset actually allows me to learn how to better take care of my belongings, dog and body.
And for that, I’m grateful.
Now, don’t get me wrong. It took a few weeks to get over the annoyance of not able to do my laundry whenever I want in my own home, cleaning feathers out of my car and feeling dizzy from the imbalance in my hearing. But, once I paused and managed each situation, the mindset shift also happened.
Health Benefits of a Growth Mindset
A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology in April of 2022 about the mental health of college students finds that individuals who adopted the growth mindset experienced fewer mental health issues and less stress related to life events. The students who adopted a growth mindset viewed mistakes as learning opportunities and stayed focused amid challenging situations.
Furthermore, the student study shows an improvement in life event perceptions and the ability to express resilience. Win-win!
I have to agree with this. As I’ve worked on re-framing my mindset in tough situations over the past few years, I’ve also noticed it’s easier to let go of the frustration and find acceptance, which means holding on to less stress.
Can You Shift Your Mindset?
Is there something on your mind that could benefit from a mindset shift? Think about the issue from a more practical, local perspective – not personally – and see if you can gain some distance and clarity.
You might even learn something about yourself or the situation that becomes beneficial.
Until next time,
Choose healthy!
Angela
PS: Wonder what I’m up to today? Visit me on Facebook at Cupcakes and Yoga Pants!
