3 Practices for Expanding Your Mindset

Watch the video version of this blog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOnkF8Nn30c

We hear the term "mindset" all the time, especially if you're fond of wellness and spirituality. But how can we break this word down into simple terms? My personal definition of mindset is: our perception of the world, and our place in it.

Our perception of ourselves and the world range drastically from person to person, and we all have rooted experiences that have shaped our mindset. But I want to emphasize that this perception is changeable, if the will is there. As much as we may believe something, as long as the truth of this belief can be tested, it has the ability to be changed. These things that we believe about our life, or ourselves, are typically always subjective. And the things we want to change in life typically revolve around ourselves, and don't fall into the category of an objective perception.

So if we know that our experience, and our mindset based on our experience is a subjective thing- than all we need to know is that we can change our association with our (usually unconscious) self-predicted outcomes. Believing something about ourselves and our life doesn't make it true, and we have an opportunity in every moment to change our belief, to then change our association with an outcome, to then change our actions and our energy toward an outcome that WILL serve our highest and greatest good. See how it's all connected?

I want to share 3 ways that I personally have expanded my mindset in the past. As an extremely 'absorbable' person, I've found that the biggest catalysts of change for me in the past was always seeing someone else do the thing, experience the desired outcome, and basically anything that PROVED something, in all senses of the word. I can honestly say I'm someone who NEEDS to see it to believe it. But these practices below allowed me to almost see into the future, see into a world of what IS actually possible for any human, despite their upbringing, or their life experiences.

• Watch others on YouTube who are doing what you desire. This was HUGE for me. In a world where we have access to anything and everything, one of the best ways we can utilize this technology is by literally expanding our mindset through visual proof- IMO. There is nothing more expansive than literally seeing a glimpse of someone else's reality- and even more so when they are literally showing you the possibilities of what can happen when you do x, y and z to achieve your personal desired reality. The interesting thing about this is that almost all people who make videos on YouTube that showcase a once desired reality that is now their... reality reality, they always say something along the lines of "if I can do it, you can too". This holds more truth than I think people realize. It will take effort, and work, and it's not meant to be easy- but most importantly it is achievable. If it were as easy as simply wanting something, everybody would have what they want. But if you are willing to take and apply the advice that people freely (and hopefully genuinely) give, you have an advantage over others who won't take action.

• Inform yourself & your belief system by reading books on the stories of others and how they overcame challenges/what they thought was possible. Self help section at Barnes & Noble anyone? I've gotta say, this area of the store had my 20 year old self written all over it. Listening to the strategies, the mindset shifts, and the step-by-step actions other's took to change their lives was one of my initial inspirations- before even YouTube. It was overwhelming- don't get me wrong. But it ended up turning into a mindless, cathartic practice to press play on a self-help audio book and go about my morning tasks, commute, workout, or cleaning. There is something really powerful about simply associating yourself with the energy of something, even if at the time it feels a bit over your head. Not everything is meant to make sense all at once. When I was really into my process of listening to audio books and podcasts on subjects revolving around self-help, it wasn't so much the exact advice they were giving or the exact words they were articulating- it was much more about understanding where this person was at in their evolution and introducing that to my body, mind, and soul through simple listening. It's the same thing we experience when we watch a really inspiring film, or listen to a song that hits a chord of ours in a certain way that takes us out of our reality and into a space of pure inspiration. What we're really touching on here is developing a healthy relationship with escapism through various forms of media- whether it's visual or audible, and allowing it to transport your sense of reality to a place that's of higher importance and evolution based on your desire. This practice got me closer to my higher vision for myself, and I give it much credit for shaping my mindset to where it stands today.

• Implement a meditation routine that intentionally helps you expand your mindset through visualization, affirmation, tarot, etc. I would say this is probably more advanced if you're not already doing something similar as a daily practice, but this element of spirituality and wellbeing has been the initiator for some of the largest mindset shifts I've experienced in my life. It's the very reason I talk about it so much- as it was truly the driver for a bit part of my journey into being a business owner. Manifestation is obviously the biggest form of "proof" you can get from these kinds of practices, but it's not everything. It may sound unfulfilling to some if you don't practice meditation, but there is a kind of 'connection' you can gain from implementing meditation into your daily life that isn't really explainable through words, but it sure is real and quite compelling. Put simply, this connection is one derived from nature. The nature of your soul, and the nature of the world. The way in which this connection expands your mindset is through the awareness that there is something much larger at play. This awareness in action is what some people refer to as "co-creation", and it's basically the idea that once you're aware of this connection, and you strengthen it enough to know that it's present in your reality, you're able to direct the energy of your desires into this connection to ultimately experience "manifestation". It's one of the most powerful experiences to have- something that was based on a subtle connection that you had faith to trust in that has always been unseen, and unproven- then physically shows itself into your reality. I've experienced the manifestation of travel, a relationship, and also a career path. I talk a bit more about manifestation and visualization in my blog - Special Edition: How to Create the Ultimate 2024 Vision Board for your Business!

To wrap this all into one big final summation, expanding your mindset can drastically shift your reality if you allow it too. You can't be skeptical, stubborn, or even realistic in this process. Expanding your mindset is a practice that you are required to let go of logic and really tap into the energy of possibility. Why is this? Because if you live in a place of logic, your reality can only expand to the extent you believe is logical. But if you allow yourself to live in the state of possibility, even for a short while (ideally as a daily practice), than you're able to open your mind to the potential of better and higher realities for yourself.

As I mentioned expanding your mindset can be a catalyst for growth in your business- hence why I place so much importance on it. Originally I came from a place of being extremely realistic with what I could and couldn't achieve- but something felt off about this. When I began implementing these practices into my life, everything that I desired became more connected to me and ultimately looking back 3 years later, the most important desires came true. Directing my career, experiencing the relationship of my dreams, and experiencing the subtle shifts that reflected my desires.