The mind is powerful, so much so that what you think and believe drastically changes your reality.
The phenomenon at work here is that your mindset affects your life so much that your body physically reacts.
With your beliefs being so powerful, theres one question to ask: What are your mindsets about life?
Hian Oliveira
Do they inspire growth?
Or do they keep you stuck in a vicious cycle of pity and defeat?
For a long time, I was in the latter.
I fell victim to depression and my eating disorder.
I thought Id forever be repeating unhealthy dating patterns.
I felt like life was happening to me, not for me.
But then I started to make little changes simply on how I saw life and things got instantly better.
The good news is that if you are thinking as I did, the solution is easy.
There are simple mindset shifts that anyone can make while going about their day.
And the results of these shifts can drastically change your life.
Seeing lifes stresses as blessings.
One day when I was living in China, I visited the beach.
By the time I came back from swimming, my backpack was stolen.
I cried in the shower that night, distraught that everything I owned was gone.
People often see everyday parts of life as stresses.
Ugh, another bill.
But it’s possible for you to reframe your mind about how you see these inevitables.
Bills are a sign youre able to afford electricity and water.
A parking ticket means youre lucky enough to be able to own a car.
After that day in China, I decided never to let the little stresses in life get to me.
I couldnt control them, and the fact is, they were only indicators of how lucky I am.
Thinking, Were on the same team.
Conflict is what starts wars and ends marriages.
People dont know how to communicate, plain and simple.
But what really gets me is that most of the time, people want the same end goal.
They want to feel understood.
They want to feel respected.
Or they both want the same outcome, i.e.
getting the damn dishes clean.
Instead of seeing who can shout the loudest, recognize that youre both on the same team.
to What is this teaching me?
There isnt a malicious life genie trying to make your time in this world a living hell.
Life is not happening to you; your mindset is what makes it seem that way.
Everyone is thrown less-than-stellar obstacles.
Its impossible to go through life without a few bumps or mountains.
But rather than seeing yourself as a victim to life, see things from a new angle.
Think to yourself, What is this struggle teaching me?
Growth comes from going through hard times.
We cant learn a lesson if we dont actually go through the lesson.
If life were easy, wed all remain stagnant instead of becoming more aware, happier versions of ourselves.
Instead of feeling helpless about everything that happens to you, confront your challenges.
Think about what you gotta do differently next time.
Consider how you might be holding yourself back from what you want.
Setbacks are only temporary if you let them be.
Seeing rejection as life telling you what isnt meant for you.
The moments after being rejected can feel like your world is ending.
But this is because you see rejection as personal.
And maybe sometimes it is, but that doesnt mean there is something wrong with you.
In the long run, this break up is a great thing.
Now you’re able to go out into the world and find someone better suited for you.
Either way, that job and the relationship werent meant for you.
It doesnt mean something is wrong with you; instead, something doesnt suit you.
Realizing happiness isnt a destination.
I fell for this idea when I was young, and Im sure you did too.
When that didnt happen, I longed for the days of marrying and finally having my happily ever after.
But then I got to reading, talking, and sharing stories.
Thats when I realized there is no final destination in life.
At no point is happiness going to magically come forever.
You have to live life in the present.
We have no idea how many days we have left on this planet.
Which is why happiness is something you have to cultivate for yourself.
Thats done by doing hobbies you love, spending time with your friends, and taking care of yourself.
Believing you must suffer to be later happy is rubbish.
Happiness is something you’re able to and should have every day.
Growing up, were taught about love through our parents.
They give and dont expect grand gestures of love in return.
Then we grow up, believing that to find a partner, we must be lovable.
Men chase high-paying jobs to impress; women seek to be seen as beautiful.
And all of this focuses on one thing: being loved.
Were taught to seek love, but not how to give it.
Instead of seeking approval, youre creating more of what you deeply desire.
This isnt to say you should give love to someone that never reciprocates it.
But too often people withhold love and focus on only taking, perpetuating their feeling of being unsatisfied.
Our beliefs can either be what holds us back or helps us grow.
While the power they hold is strong, it only takes subtle shifts to change them.
Practice these different mindsets regularly and youll see a drastic change in your life for the better.
