What is Mindset and Why Should I Even Care?

“In simple terms, mindset is how you view and process the world around you.” - Teddy Mitrosillis

Have you ever stopped to think about your thinking? By that I mean, have you ever taken time to think about how you respond to the world around you? When someone says something to you that you either like or dislike, have you ever thought about WHY you react that way? You face a task that is difficult and you believe you can tackle it. Or you believe the task is impossible for you and so you decide not to tackle it. Have you ever stopped to think about WHY you think that way?

How we think is so engrained in us it is similar to walking or breathing. We do not realize we are breathing, but we do. We do not realize how we walk or even ponder it, but we do. How we think is so natural to us that we have established mindsets that we are not even aware of.

What is mindset anyway? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines mindset as:

1: a mental attitude or inclination
2: a fixed state of mind

In other words, it is how we see, how we respond, how we think. The mindset you have right now as you read this article is like a second skin and you are not even aware of how you process the information you take in. You are now aware of how you take it in and what you do with it.

But your mindset is what you should pay attention to the most. Gandhi said, “your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.”

Your mindset becomes your destiny!

So, if our mindset is so important, why do we pay so little attention to it? Because it is so entrenched and engrained in us from such a young age that we are not even aware of the mindsets we have adopted.

Conduct a thought experiment for a moment. What is your greatest fear? And I do not mean of a snake or some other type of animal. Are you afraid of failing? Are you afraid of disappointing someone? Are you afraid of not making enough money? Take a moment and think about your greatest fear.

WHY do you have that fear?

Did that fear come from something someone said to you when you were a child? Maybe you had a relationship that ended terribly. Maybe you had a loved one that died when you were young. Maybe you had a teacher that yelled at you and now you have a fear.

Do you have it pictured in your mind as to what that fear is and how you got that fear? Maybe the fear is so engrained, so entrenched in your thoughts that you do not even remember where the fear came from.

No matter what the fear is or what caused the fear, that fear is a mindset.

Now, think about what you are great at. Maybe you are amazing at your profession and know you can handle any problem that comes up. Maybe you are incredible at sports and can run circles around your friends. Maybe you relish challenges. Think about why you think you are great at something.

Perhaps a mentor told you that you were amazing in your profession. Maybe a parent told you that you had amazing skills at a sport. Maybe you were praised by your peers.

No matter what you are great at or what caused you to come to that conclusion, that belief is a mindset.

As you can see, mindset is as natural as the air you breath. The mindset you currently have and use came about based upon how you responded to the events throughout your life.

Homework time! I want you to set aside some time and think about your thinking. Specifically, I want you to think about why you respond the way you do in one area. Pick a feeling you get when an event happens and think about your response. Sit back and ask yourself WHY you feel the way you do. Pause and wonder where this feeling comes from and what caused it.

The next time we will discuss the impact our mindsets have on our lives.

Until then, think about your thinking. Think about your mindset.