Your mindset is the key to your success
You watch the videos, you read them articles, listen to podcasts, shop for workout gear, and set your fitness goals. But try as you might, something keeps sabotaging your best intentions to exercise regularly. You convince yourself that you simply don’t have time because of a list of legal obligations and responsibilities. Or you criticize yourself, “Why bother? I’ve tried to get in shape before, but it never works or lasts.”
But what if your problem isn’t actually time management, your disdain for sweat, or a lack of willpower?
What if the root of these obstacles is actually caused by you mentality?
What is mindset?
Your mindset is a result of your thought patterns, opinions, beliefs, attitude and mood. It affects the way we think about everything in life and there are two main types of mindset…
︎Fixed mindset: The personal belief that you are born with a certain level of ability (or body type) and cannot be changed. (ie, avoiding challenges due to fear of failure and/or self-sabotaging your efforts.)
︎Growth mindset: The personal belief that you are in control of your abilities (and your body) and can learn to improve them through personal growth and development. (ie find the challenges exciting and exciting because you know you will gain value from the experience.)
Without a growth mindset we don’t put in the necessary effort, so we stay stuck all the time. But with a growth mindset, you can break through the grind and achieve your fitness goals, be more productive at work, and help grow and strengthen your relationships as well.
Being fit goes beyond the physical.
You have to train your mind to believe that your body can become what you want it to be. Yes, effort, consistency and commitment are all necessary. But they are not as effective without maintaining the belief in yourself that you are capable of anything you put your beautiful mind to!
Boost your mindset with neuroplasticity
The good news is that you can change your mindset! And neuroplasticity is the game changer that makes it all possible. Like any major change, changing your perspective on exercise requires focus and commitment.
Changing your mindset (and your body) is all about consistency and simplicity, and it’s backed by science.
Neuroscience shows that our brains continue to develop and change throughout our lives. Neuroplasticity is what allows our brains to form new neural pathways created by the thoughts you think and the things you do. So, whether positive or negative, they become embedded in our brains as predetermined habits of thought and/or belief. And luckily, you can change them!
The first step is to realize that developing a growth mindset is one of the most important things you can do to help you succeed in all areas of your life. And changing your perspective from a steady mentality in a development mindset can be easier than you think. By taking small steps in the right direction, anyone can build and strengthen a growth mindset.
See how…
1. Recognize and Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Our differences are the spices that make us all uniquely beautiful! Everyone has flaws and quirks, and your self-imposed, so-called “weaknesses” are usually your biggest teachers. They highlight where development is needed and where you have potential to improve. Embrace them, because they are the path to bettering yourself and to a healthier, stronger, and more powerful you. So celebrate them both, for they are the yin and yang of your limitless potential.
2. Overcome your fears and face your challenges bravely.
If you feel fear or nervousness in the face of a challenge, stop and shift your perception of the feeling of fear to excitement and enthusiasm. Every opportunity invites you to a new experience or adventure. And as with adventures, fear is an understandable emotion, but you press on anyway because it’s new and exciting!
Fear and anxiety are a big part of a fixed mindset. It is the fear of feeling embarrassed or feeling like a failure that keeps us stuck. If you can face the fears within, you will learn how to face them, process them, and change them. If you take the same attitude as starting your fitness journey or a new exercise routine, you’ll discover abilities you didn’t even know you had.
3. Fix negative self-talk.
Censor yourself. Pay more attention to the words you say and the thoughts you think and listen to the “voice of a fixed mindset.” When you listen to that judgmental voice in your head, you disrespect yourself and lower your standards so that the outcome of your decisions and their consequences reflect that. Replace judgment with acceptance and compassion and you’ll strengthen your growth mindset.
4. Stop seeking approval from others.
The need for approval from others often prevents a growth mindset. Practice self-acceptance and self-love every day self-care activities. Learn to trust yourself because YOU are the only one in your life who will always be there for you. Try not to take yourself so seriously and don’t be afraid to make mistakes or look stupid in front of others. It absolutely happens to everyone and besides, what other people think is none of your business anyway! 
5. Be authentically you.
Amidst the ever-changing trends in life, your authentic self will always be timeless. So remember to take time to nurture, embrace and reconnect with the truest version of you. Because pretending to be someone else doesn’t respect who you really are. It makes you look fake and lowers your integrity. Becoming truly authentic is a process that takes time and inner work. But once you do, you’ll be more driven to pursue your goals which will help strengthen your growth mindset.
6. Live With Purpose.
A purpose-driven life has more meaning and purpose and is a cornerstone for developing a growth mindset. Define what your passion and purpose entails. Having a plan and a clear sense of purpose provides a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It gives more importance to your daily actions and choices. Incorporating purpose into your life can start with small, intentional steps that align with your values and passions. Living with purpose leads to a more meaningful and rewarding life with greater resilience and enhanced motivation to succeed.
7. Learn from the mistakes of others.
Learning from the mistakes of others enables you to make fewer mistakes of your own. Remember that success leaves clues, so it is important to learn from someone else who has successfully achieved what you desire. This helps calm the fear of trying new things which is a key aspect of building a growth mindset.
8. Shift your visual criticism to constructive feedback
At times, there may be some form of value in critical feedback. So if you can shift your perception of criticism to constructive feedback, you’ll learn to value other people’s opinions because of what you can learn from them. People often see things from different angles, so it could potentially be a valuable suggestion. If you are open to hearing these suggestions as constructive versus destructive, you will strengthen your growth mindset.
9. Appreciate the process and not just the end result.
When you have a growth mindset, the end result is less focus. Remind yourself that it’s the journey along the way, not just the destination. So be careful, stay present and appreciate every step/repetition of the journey! Even if it’s just a little bit every day – no matter how long it takes. When you’re struggling with something, remind yourself that it’s okay if you haven’t mastered it yet. Stick with it and over time, practice and experience will eventually lead to improvement.
10. Have faith in yourself.
Faith is a state of mind that must be cultivated and practiced to be maintained. Self-awareness and belief in yourself is the real key to achieving lasting success. Therefore, Faith needs to be active and not passive. It is your unwavering, applied faith that strengthens your personal belief system as well as your growth mindset
It’s time to grow above and beyond your self-imposed limitations
Having a growth mindset will help you gain momentum and resilience throughout your fitness journey so you no longer allow self-imposed limitations to get in the way of your success. You are strengthening and reshaping your mind, which is incredibly empowering!
Research shows that people with a growth mindset are more likely to successfully achieve their fitness goals. Understanding this powerful mind-body connection it’s like unlocking an incredible secret to enhance desired results!
So value fostering your growth mindset and take the time to develop it. It’s one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself!
The post Top 10 Ways to Foster a Growth Mindset for Optimized Fitness Results appeared first on FemmePhysiques.
