Do you ever think about what you think about? Are you aware that your brain is not a muscle but needs to be treated as if it is, with exercise and training? Have you ever found yourself thinking about something so negative you can't even remember how or why that initial thought started? 

 

These are all questions that fascinate me. The power of the mind should make you want to pause and train it because you ARE in control, when you are intentional about it. Considering how easily we can be distracted from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, we need to make sure we are intentionally taking the time out of our day to pause and evaluate our thoughts. Why? Because a negative thought can easily come into our mind and that one thought can affect how we view the world, relationships and even ourselves! 

 

Meditation, journaling, talking to someone, reading about the mind, implementing a routine that makes you think about your goals, etc. are all ways to be intentional about your thoughts. Do you implement any of these actions into your day to day routine?

 

The first book I ever read that helped me understand the power of the mind was 

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

 

 

 

 

 

In order to show you how implementing a growth mindset changed my life, first I need to start with my life before I was introduced to it. I grew up wanting to be a teacher, so naturally, year after year I told myself I wanted to be a teacher. Once I got to college, I got my teaching credential and was well on my way to getting into a classroom. Now, I do have a deep passion for teaching, but the problem was, I never paused, looked at my future and really considered what I truly wanted to do. I just told myself I was going to be teacher and that was it. In all honestly, I probably wouldn't have stayed on that path if I was pushed to think about what really, really excited me.

 

One day, I met a family out of the blue, and they asked me if I wanted to work for their family. I would be homeschooling their 3 kids and helping launch a new curriculum for their SEL education company. Right up until this day, I had my "plan" and stuck with it. I never questioned my path nor what I wanted to do. Suddenly, I had a decision to make - stick to my plan and become a teacher in a classroom or do a complete 180 and take a job that would potentially stretch me, challenge me and put me totally out of my comfort zone. I am not sure how I let my fixed mindset do this, but I took the job, and that is where everything changed. 

 

The next two years were essentially a crash course on growth mindset. I started to realize how "fixed minded" I was, not just in my occupation but just in my life in general! We are not born with social skills fully developed, but we need to actually learn how to be more kind, patient, and understanding, and also understand that grit is not handed to you. Do you ever feel like some people just have a fire for life and you just weren't built like that? Well, I will tell you first hand that you can turn your life around the second you realize that you can train your mind to do anything.

 

I went from having my life on cruise control to being intentional with my relationships, my mind and my body. I learned that growth only happened when I was challenging myself. 

 

The worst thing you can do for yourself is coast through life. If you are feeling like your life is "easy" and seamless, the odds that you are pushing yourself to grow are very slim, and that is slippery slope.

 

 

 

 

It is not a new revalation to add meditation, journaling and/or a walk into your routine, but how often do you actually implement all 3 of these things? You know that it's important, but you just don't have time in your busy schedule. I always try to simplify things so that I am working smarter not harder. 

 

I created this simple 10-5-10 method. The tool that I added to ensure I complete this method was a timer. I set 3 timers on my phone: 1 for 10 minutes, 1 for 5 minutes and 1 for 10 minutes. That way, I am not distracted by time or how long I am doing it. I know the second the alarm goes off, I can transition to the next thing. 25 minutes in your morning routine can be very achieveble if you prioritize it. 

 

10 minutes of meditation: For me, this is the first time I had tried meditation. At the beginning, it can feel awkward for our constantly stimulated mind to sit still with no distractions, but it is so good for our mind to pause, sit, and let your thoughts wander. Focus on your breathing. Let your body relax. See what thoughts come to your mind at the end. 

 

5 minutes of journaling: You can write about your mediation time OR you can just use the journaling time as a "brain dump". Write what is on your mind, let it go if necessary, or re-evaluate why you are having these thoughts in the first place. 5 minutes goes back quickly, so just start writing and don't stop until you hear the timer.

 

10 minutes of walking outside: Walking outside in the fresh air is so over-rated. Right now, walking is my main source of movement because of my pregnancy, so I usually go on a couple walks throughout the day. This 10 minute walk is different though. It is right after my meditation and journaling, and it is when my mind is the most clear. You see the world differently when your mind is clear! 

 

Try these 3 simple steps and be consistent with it!