So, what’s next in your evolution?
The reality is that we all need to continually change and evolve in order to grow and thrive.
For the most part our continual evolution is imperceptible, but happening, nonetheless.
What I’ve generally found is that there are two groups of people: (1) those that embrace and accept change, (2) those that resist change.
Which group are you in? Be honest…
I suppose some of you will say “well, it depends”. Fair enough, although I would challenge you to step back and look at your general behaviour then identify which group you’re in for the majority of the time.
It’s difficult to accept sometimes the truth and reality of a situation.
Arguably, the concept of evolution is a mindset change versus any other form of change.
Are you willing to embrace change as part of your personal evolution is the question?
Many of us begin the year with New Year’s resolutions, so perhaps a focus on your personal evolution this coming year may in fact enable you to “change the game”.
I know that over the course of my life there have been many evolutions and indeed, a couple of full-blown reinventions…
Which, as it turns out has provided me with some incredible opportunities. However, if I had resisted the change and kept the same mindset then I would have become stagnant and remained where I was emotionally.
Ultimately, stuck and not able to evolve and grow.
So how do we build an open and resilient mindset?
Firstly, it’s letting go of, and challenging your current thinking and in some cases your entire belief system. No question that this can be daunting!
However, the first step is accepting that you willing to challenge your current mindset.
Once you’ve accepted this then the work actually begins…
Here are a few reminders that will help guide you in your personal evolution:
- Self-awareness: Understand your current mindset and the thoughts, beliefs, and patterns that define it. This awareness will help you identify what needs to change. Becoming more self-aware means that you have to honestly assess your mindset. You can no longer gloss over your thoughts, beliefs, and values. I focused on my initial reasons for wanting to evolve or reinvent myself and used this as a touchstone.
- Openness to change: Be willing to explore new perspectives, ideas, and possibilities. Embrace a growth mindset that believes your abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved. This self-belief is crucial to moving forward into aspects of your life that you may have never challenged or examined. Remember, everything is up for grabs!
- Challenge your beliefs: Question your beliefs and assumptions at every turn. Examine whether they are still valid or if they are holding you back from evolving your mindset. This is tough because your fundamental beliefs serve as the foundation of who you really believe you are. It’s okay to evolve your mindset and change your beliefs but be prepared to jettison some of your friends and even family as you do this. They may mean well, but in reality, are actually keeping you a prisoner of beliefs that perhaps no longer serve you. Food for thought…
- Practice positive self-talk: Pay attention to your internal dialogue and replace negative self-talk with positive and encouraging thoughts. Remind yourself of your strengths, capabilities, and successes. For me this was one of the most difficult aspects of my mindset evolution as it spoke to directly to my self-love, or in my case initially the lack thereof…
- Surround yourself with positive influences: Seek out individuals who also have a growth mindset and who inspire and support your mindset change. Engage in real and meaningful conversations and learn from their experiences. This was difficult to begin, as those around you are a bit surprised or confused when you tell them you are going through an evolution or reinvention. Many of your friends and family may view this as “weird” or “hokey”, but this just tells me that they may not be part of your long-term evolution. My advice is to find your tribe! Those that understand where you’re at in your journey and are both supportive and willing to help you move forward.
- Continuous learning: Cultivate a love for learning and embrace new challenges. Seek opportunities to acquire new knowledge, skills, and experiences that align with your mindset change. This is a key part of your evolution and must be embraced fully. When I began my first reinvention, I chose Improv comedy to get me out of my comfort zone and never looked back. It was so exhilarating being on stage and learning to “go with the flow”, I was fearful, but my confidence grew significantly.
- Embrace failure as a learning opportunity: Understand that failure is a part of the growth process. Instead of seeing failures as setbacks, view them as valuable lessons that help you learn and improve. I discovered that it was okay to fail. In the past I always saw this as a negative, but with my change in mindset I used this to my advantage as I evolved my thinking.
- Practice gratitude: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and focus on the positive aspects of your life. Recognize and appreciate the progress you have made in changing your mindset. We often don’t celebrate the wins or improvements that we’ve made in our lives. I found that celebrating, even by myself served as a recognition of how far I had come in my growth.
Remember, changing your mindset is a process that takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and celebrate often.
Until next week
Ciao!
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