Yvonne Chido Manyanja
Have you heard of an old adage that says, as a man thinketh so is he? You might have even read about it and still do not understand what it means to always check how you think.
The greatest limitation of any human is their mindset because this is what will determine how much they can dream or imagine.
I came across a 13-year-old girl who was so passionate about dancing, I asked her, why do you dance?
She said, “My mother told me that I am a great dancer and that one day I am going to be known around the world because of my dancing.
“I don’t like how we are surviving, we struggle to make ends meet and I watch my mum put all her effort to ensure I get everything that I want.
“I also want to do that for her, if dancing is going to make me known around the world then I will make a fortune and build my mum a nice house and a beautiful car.”
After hearing this, I was so inspired, that if this girl already has a clear understanding of what she wants to do and is improving her dancing every day so that she gets to be known around the world, what then limits everyone else from achieving their goals.
This child could have said that we live in poverty so I don’t think I will be known around the world for my dancing because my mum does not have the money to make me visible.
These are the excuses that we hear people making all the time and because they believe in those excuses, they fail to make it.
To counter the limitations that our mindsets may have on our progress, here are the four tips to help you master your mindset in a positive way that encourages growth.
- Visualize who you want to become and journal
All thoughts start as simple imagined ideas then you follow through that image until you are able to fully understand it. You will find that when you think through it, multiple complimentary ideas start running through your mind, so what do you do? Make it a habit to write every thought that comes because it will help you to plan well for the execution process. Journaling is the first step of faith that proves you know you can achieve this
- Listen to your own thoughts
Growing up we have learnt so much and we tend to just rely on those and fail to pave way for the possibility of creativity that may actually be lying dormant in us. Listening therefore becomes a skill that will make you stand out and begin to create what others may consider to be impossible. You need to know that the world has few people with a listening ability but those few if you get a change to interact with them you will realise how mature they are.
- Decide what you feed your mind with
You are a sum total of your thoughts but above all, you are what you consume. Always be mindful of what you constantly expose yourself to in as far as environment and associations are concerned because their way of thinking will also become your way of thinking. You might have heard that you are an average of the 5 people you spend time with. What you read and watch also plays a critical role in what gets to be in your mind. So you cannot have a different perspective to that for which you consume, this is why you will realise that we live in a world with different opinions because people believe differently due to what they expose their minds to.
- You can train your mind to think differently
I understand this may sound somehow odd but that’s the truth, you can train you mind how to think by channelling your thoughts on what you want to think about. If you are faced with a problem and really desire to know the solution, you will tell your mind that it is time to think on what can be done. This is a clear sign that you can control your thoughts. This also means that thinking progression or thinking regression is nothing but an individual’s choice. You cannot be limited by family beliefs if you decide that you want to think differently.
To wrap up, you need to understand that mindsets form attitudes and attitudes give birth to action, it does not matter if the action is bad or it is good but you need to know that the root cause of that attitude is the nature of mindset you carry. It is therefore very important to master your mindset if you have an unpleasant situation that has been lingering in your life which you want to detach yourself from.
Yvonne Chido Manyanja writes in her own capacity. She is a Certified Mind Transformation Coach, an author of three books including The Mindset Shifter, Founder of MET Talks and Public Speaking and Leadership Development organization. She is also a founder of XcelPlus Incorporated a business consulting company. You can get hold of her on 0774433993 or visit her website www.yvonnechido.co.zw
