Have you ever been super obsessed with what you ate and how often you exercised? Have you ever tracked everything that went into your mouth and then felt guilty for eating it?
Although our bodies may be healthy, I have learnt that our minds can be a really toxic place. A place where you are constantly placing unrealistic expectations on yourself. One of the reasons why I like to write about mindsets is because I have learnt over the years that I am as healthy as my mind is.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that there are patterns that end up holding us back when we try to make a change in our life. When my thoughts are unhealthy and negative, I end up succumbing to my uncertainties, anxiety and insecurities.
If you like to overthink, procrastinate or you struggle with being a perfectionist, the next part of this blog is for you.
So what is a healthy mindset?
Any healthy mindset requires you to find ways to grow from your thoughts instead of letting them control your life. A healthy mindset is all about moving away from any negative thoughts and accepting things as they are. Too often I have dwelled on negative thoughts. All it did was cause me to feel more anxious and overwhelmed.
This does not mean we need to be obsessed about having a positive mindset. It only means that we should start cultivating a healthy mindset. You can still have a healthy mindset when you are feeling negative at times.
The Five C’s
Clarity
Have a clear idea of the things that are important to you. A lot of the space in our brain gets taken up with unsure feelings of who we are and what we think we are not. Gain some clarity on your dreams, goals, values and priorities. This will help remove any sense of overwhelming thoughts and uncertainty.
Calm
Calming your mind when you are feeling as though you are under an excruciating amount of pressure is very important when working on a healthy mindset. It is really tough to see things as they really are when your very own thoughts are all over the place. When you bring awareness to what is really happening and what you are really thinking, that is when you can think calmly. Take some time to recognize when you are overthinking or worrying about things that are actually really insignificant.
Compassion
The biggest reason why we have unhealthy mindsets is because we lack compassion towards ourselves. When we are constantly comparing ourselves to others, pressurazing ourselves to be perfect and doubting our own abilities, we end up sabotaging our own success and achievements. Accept yourself fully. Trust yourself and set healthy expectations.
Concentration
This is about dedication and commitment. It is often too easy to lose track of what is really important. Don’t get stuck. Focus on what matters.
Courage
Courage assists us with taking action. Procrastination keeps us stuck. Courage sounds like taking big, scary leaps into unknown areas but courage actually means tackling simple tasks that you have always been putting off. Courage pushes us to take imperfect action and that in itself helps us to build confidence, strength and resilience.
I pray that you would find your own healthy mindset and that you would experience the peace and grace that you so deserve.