The Only Person Who Can Push You Further In Life Is Yourself

There are two mindsets, a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. I get it, feeling like giving up when the world seems to be crashing down around us (Brexit and Trump come to mind) is one way to think about life. But there’s another way. It’s facing the adversity, persisting through all the obstacles and embracing the uncertainty.

What is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset is all about thriving on challenges and seeing failure as a step closer to getting to where you want to be. We usually adopt one of these mindsets early on in life, but as we go through our journey, we can change. We can become doers, believers in far-flung hopes and dreams, we can change the way we think.  It’s called neuroplasticity.

How to have a growth mindset?

Challenge yourself 

Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. There’s nothing worse than being so comfortable in life that you’re bored (unless you’re into that kind of thing). Also, challenges will always come about, whether it’s buying a new house, moving to a new place, relationship challenges. Embrace them and keep going.

Jump over the obstacles 

When things are going smoothly in life, it’s normal for a huge boulder to get in the way and then another and another and another. But it’s during these times when you need to climb the boulders and make it to the other side – you can do it!

Make the effort 

Do everything with your heart and soul. Don’t mindlessly go through life half-heartedly seeing everything as glass half empty, make that glass full, even if it’s day-to-day activities such as washing your clothes or cleaning your house. Trust me, you will reap the benefits of making effort in everything you do.

Take constructive criticism 

If someone criticizes me (whether it’s constructive or not), I get defensive and I start thinking I’m not good enough (trust me, I’m working on it). Criticism is really good to learn from. Take on board the advice given, ignore the negative and accept the constructive as this will help you grow.

Don’t get jealous 

Don’t feel threatened by the success of others. Be proud of them and feel inspired. Also, don’t compare someone else’s journey to your own. Everybody is at different stages in life, so go at your own pace and focus on your goals, rather than being jealous of somebody else.

“Why waste time proving over and over how great you are, when you could be getting better? Why hide deficiencies instead of overcoming them? Why look for friends or partners who will just shore up your self-esteem instead of ones who will also challenge you to grow? And why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you? The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.” – Caroline Dweck, author of Mindset.