Which type of mindset do you have?

2024-07-05 ~ adminlife

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, in her insightful book *Mindset: The New Psychology of Success*, explains that there are two types of mindsets: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. These mindsets shape how we view our abilities and personality.

A fixed mindset is the belief that our character, creative abilities, and intelligence are static traits that cannot change. People with this mindset think their basic abilities are inherent and will not improve beyond a certain point.

Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.

One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.

I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.

You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.

Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.

Individuals with a fixed mindset strive to appear intelligent because they do not believe their intelligence can grow. They fear looking unintelligent, thinking that once labelled as such, they will always be seen that way. Common fixed mindset thoughts include:

Either I’m good at something, or I’m not.
I can’t learn now; it’s too late.
There’s no point in trying if I’m going to fail.
I always struggle with…
I’m a procrastinator.
I’m not creative.
It’s hard for me to lose weight.

In contrast, a growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can develop with time and experience. People with a growth mindset think they can become smarter, and that their efforts directly impact their success. They understand that persistence is key to learning.

Those with a growth mindset see their basic abilities as just the starting point for their potential. This mindset fosters a love of learning rather than a constant need for validation. Common growth mindset thoughts include:

I can always become better at something through practice.
I can learn whatever I want or need to, exactly when I need to learn it.
I see failures as opportunities to learn, reassess, and improve.
I can always do better if I put in the effort.
Determination and effort determine my outcomes.
I enjoy learning and growing and see it as a lifelong pursuit.

A key difference between these mindsets is how they handle challenges. A person with a fixed mindset will often avoid challenges out of fear of failure and may shirk responsibilities. Conversely, someone with a growth mindset embraces challenges, finding them engaging and valuable for learning. They overcome obstacles and move on to greater achievements.

Another important difference is in handling mistakes and feedback. A person with a fixed mindset is embarrassed by mistakes, often blaming others or becoming defensive when criticized. In contrast, someone with a growth mindset views mistakes as learning opportunities. They are open to criticism, seeing it as a way to improve and do better next time.

If you recognize a fixed mindset in yourself and want to change, you can. It requires practice, determination, awareness of your thoughts, and anticipating your reactions to situations. With effort, you can develop a more open, growth mindset that leads to success in all areas of life.

To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 45-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.

If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)

Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my books at

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Michael_W

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

The Champion and the Explorer: Competitive vs. Creative Mindsets

2024-06-28 ~ adminlife

Have you ever noticed how some people thrive in fast-paced environments, constantly striving to be the best, while others flourish in open-ended situations, exploring new ideas and possibilities? These contrasting approaches reflect two fundamental mindsets: competitive and creative. While they may seem like opposites, both play a crucial role in our lives and can be harnessed for success, depending on the situation.

Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.

It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.

I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.

This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.

You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.

You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com

Visit the site and read through the program description.

The Competitive Mindset: Championing Your Drive

Imagine a runner sprinting towards the finish line, lungs burning, pushing their body to the limit. This embodies the competitive mindset. It’s about setting goals, focusing on winning, and constantly seeking to outperform others. People with this approach are driven by a desire for excellence and recognition. They excel in structured environments with clear objectives.

Strengths of the Competitive Mindset:

Motivation: Competition ignites a fire within, pushing individuals to train harder, study longer, and constantly improve.
Goal Setting and Achievement: Competitive individuals are adept at setting achievable goals and developing strategies to reach them.
Resilience: Facing setbacks is inevitable in any competition. Competitive thinkers are determined and bounce back from failures, using them as stepping stones for future success.
Focus and Discipline: Maintaining focus and discipline is essential for surpassing the competition. Competitive minds excel at staying on track and resisting distractions.

The Competitive Mindset: When It Can Hinder You

While the competitive spirit can be a powerful motivator, it can also have downsides. Here are some situations where it might not be the best approach:

Stifling Creativity: The intense focus on winning can limit exploration and experimentation. The fear of failure might prevent individuals from trying new, potentially risky ideas.
Toxic Comparisons: Constantly comparing yourself to others can lead to feelings of inadequacy and hinder personal growth.
Win-Lose Mentality: This mindset can damage relationships and create a hostile environment where collaboration is difficult.

The Creative Mindset: Embracing the Explorer

Now imagine an artist staring at a blank canvas, a writer lost in a world of imagination, or an inventor tinkering with a new idea. This exemplifies the creative mindset. It’s about exploration, innovation, and the joy of creating something new. Creative thinkers are drawn to open-ended problems and enjoy the process of generating unique solutions.

Strengths of the Creative Mindset:

Problem-Solving: Creative individuals are adept at approaching problems from different angles, fostering innovative solutions.
Open-mindedness: They embrace new ideas and perspectives, leading to a richer understanding of the world.
Curiosity and Experimentation: Creativity thrives on a natural curiosity and a willingness to experiment with new approaches and ideas.
Adaptability: The ever-changing nature of creative pursuits allows individuals to readily adapt to new situations and challenges.

The Creative Mindset: When It Can Hinder You

The freedom and exploration of the creative mind can sometimes lead to challenges:

Maintaining Focus: With so many possibilities, it can be difficult to maintain focus on a single project and see it through to completion.
Fear of Judgment: Sharing creative work can be intimidating. The fear of rejection might prevent individuals from putting their ideas out there.
Disorganization: The free-flowing nature of creativity can sometimes lead to disorganization and a lack of structure, making it difficult to manage projects effectively.

Finding the Perfect Balance: Championing Your Creativity and Exploring Your Competitive Drive

The good news? You don’t have to choose between these mindsets. The most successful individuals possess elements of both. Here’s how to strike a balance:

Embrace the Challenge, then Explore: When faced with a problem, start by analyzing what’s already been done (competitive thinking). Then, use that knowledge as a springboard to explore unique solutions (creative thinking).
Collaborate with Different Thinkers: Surround yourself with people who complement your strengths. A competitive thinker can benefit from a creative teammate who pushes boundaries, and vice versa.
Celebrate Both Victories and Discoveries: Acknowledge the thrill of winning a competition, but also recognize the joy and satisfaction of discovering something new and creative.

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both competitive and creative mindsets, we can leverage them to achieve success in all areas of life. So, the next time you approach a task, remember: you can be both the champion striving for victory and the explorer venturing into the unknown.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program.

P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.

If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)

Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my books and many more at

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Michael_W

Photo by Honey Yanibel Minaya Cruz on Unsplash

Success Is Not Luck, It’s You!

2024-06-21 ~ adminlife

Do you worry that your co-workers or friends might think you’re a fraud? Do you often feel like you don’t belong? These feelings are signs of impostor syndrome, and about 70% of successful people experience them at some point in their lives.

Impostor syndrome can make you feel that your achievements are due to luck rather than your abilities. You might think you aren’t as capable as others believe you are and fear being exposed as a fraud.

Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.

One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.

I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.

You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.

Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.

Research shows that both men and women struggle with impostor syndrome and often fail to recognize and accept their own successes.

Five Patterns of Impostor Syndrome

According to impostor syndrome expert Valerie Young, author of *The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women*, there are five common patterns among those who experience this phenomenon:

You set unrealistic goals for yourself and are often seen as a perfectionist.
You hesitate to speak up or answer questions because you fear not knowing the answer.
You avoid asking for help, worried that others will see you as a failure.
You feel like a fraud if an answer doesn’t come naturally to you.
You push yourself harder than your peers to prove your worth.

People with impostor syndrome believe their successes are due to luck rather than their own hard work or abilities. This mindset can trap them in a cycle of negative thinking, holding them back from advancing in their careers. They might work excessively hard, leading to burnout and increased feelings of failure.

Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life

If you experience impostor syndrome, you might have trouble accepting your own success. You might feel undeserving of your position or accomplishments. Here are some ways to combat these feelings:

Adjust Your Mindset: Accept your imperfections instead of striving for perfection in every project or goal.
Embrace Imperfections: Learn to accept yourself as you are and remind yourself that you did your best.
Set Realistic Goals: Review your goals honestly and keep them achievable.
Value Your Effort: Appreciate the effort you’ve put in, regardless of the outcome. Even if you fall short, be proud of your hard work.
Focus Your Goals: Concentrate on specific goals rather than dividing your attention. Allow others to handle parts of a task so you can focus on what you enjoy.

Impostor syndrome can make even the strongest and most successful individuals feel inadequate. It affects all areas of life, so it’s important to evaluate where you are and find ways to move forward positively.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)

Image by Alvin Hikmawan from Pixabay

Your Subconscious Mind’s Power

2024-06-12 ~ adminlife

Whether you like it or not, your subconscious mind is in control. Even when you consciously decide to pursue a goal, it’s your subconscious that determines if you’ll take consistent action to achieve it!

By understanding how your subconscious works, you can connect with yourself on a deep level. You’ll have the keys to an abundant, fulfilling life, and all you’ll need to do is unlock that door.

Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.

It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.

This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.

You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.

You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com

Visit the site and read through the program description.

What is the Subconscious Mind?

Your mind is like an iceberg. The conscious mind is the visible part above the surface, while the subconscious is the vast bulk below, unseen.

There are certain thoughts and processes in your mind that you may not be aware of consciously, such as beliefs, instincts, and memories. Everything you’ve ever seen or heard is stored in your subconscious, affecting your current thoughts, decisions, and actions.

Communicating with the subconscious mind is popular in self-help and psychoanalysis because tapping into the subconscious is the fastest way to implement desired changes in your life.

The Power of Beliefs

Your subconscious mind holds a vast amount of information, more than your conscious mind can handle. Sometimes you might just have a “feeling” about something, and then find out that the “feeling” was right. Often, it’s your subconscious sending you these signals.

You’ve likely heard, “If you believe it, you can do it.” This saying is true because of the power of your subconscious. A belief can motivate you to do things you never thought were possible.

Believing in the power of the subconscious mind can help you communicate better with it. The alternative is to continue following base instincts, which can sometimes be limiting. For example, if you have a fear of public places, learning to communicate with your subconscious could help you overcome that fear.

Beyond Belief

Believing in the power of your subconscious is the first step to living the life you desire. Once you do, you can advance with your self-help ventures and personal development plans. You can further develop your talents, strengthen positive qualities, and overcome challenges by tapping into your subconscious.

You can also use your communications with the subconscious mind to address larger issues, like fears, or eliminate negative habits, such as smoking or emotional eating. When you reach the core of an issue in your subconscious, you can change it. The possibilities are endless!

How Do You Communicate With Your Subconscious Mind?

There are several techniques to effectively communicate with your subconscious mind and enable desired changes.

One popular method is hypnosis. You can use a trained counsellor or self-hypnosis techniques. There are also CDs and videos available that guide you through hypnosis sessions.

During hypnosis, rather than being asleep, you’re in a state of heightened awareness. Many of the inhibitions of your conscious mind will subside, allowing the subconscious to come to the forefront. In this state, you’re open to suggestions. Positive suggestions can lead to positive progress.

You can also communicate with the subconscious by reading, listening to recordings of positive mantras, and repeating affirmations. These positive statements can affirm and bring out the best in you, replacing negative thinking and doubt with positive images and beliefs. Check your local bookstore and online for many affirmation resources.

Stay aware of your innermost thoughts to better keep in touch with your subconscious. Always be truthful with yourself, follow your heart, and most importantly, have a firm belief in yourself.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program.

P. P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching

If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)

Photo by Leon-Pascal Janjic on Unsplash

Self-talk and success in life

2024-05-30 ~ adminlife

We all have an inner voice that constantly narrates our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. This inner voice, also known as self-talk, plays a crucial role in shaping our perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. While positive self-talk can boost our confidence, motivation, and resilience, negative self-talk can hinder our success and hold us back from reaching our full potential.

There is something common between self-sabotaging your own life and losing your motivation and confidence, your self-talk.

To help you understand this connection and to help put an end to your negative self-talk, I have put together a short program that can change your negative self-talk in to positive, empowering self-talk.

You can find out more and register at Self-talk

This is a short-4-week program working with me one-on-one to get you moving forward to becoming more successful.

Check out the program description and register today.

In both personal and professional life, self-talk can either be a powerful ally or a formidable adversary. Those who engage in positive self-talk tend to be more successful, happier, and healthier than those who constantly criticize and doubt themselves. Positive self-talk can help you overcome challenges, stay focused on your goals, and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity. On the other hand, negative self-talk can erode your self-esteem, limit your growth, and prevent you from taking risks and pursuing opportunities.

As a life coach, I have seen firsthand how self-talk can make or break a person’s success. Those who have mastered the art of positive self-talk are able to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and resilience, while those who harbour negative self-talk tendencies often find themselves stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, fear, and self-sabotage.

The good news is that you have the power to change your self-talk patterns and take control of your inner dialogue. One simple method that you can use to improve your self-talk is by practising self-affirmations. Self-affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself regularly to reprogram your subconscious mind and replace negative beliefs with positive ones.

To start practising self-affirmations, begin by identifying the negative beliefs or thoughts that are holding you back. These may be beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “I’ll never succeed,” or “I’m not deserving of happiness.” Once you have identified these negative beliefs, work on creating positive affirmations that challenge and replace them.

For example, if you struggle with feelings of inadequacy, you can create a positive affirmation like “I am capable, competent, and deserving of success.” Repeat this affirmation to yourself every day, preferably in front of a mirror, until it becomes ingrained in your subconscious mind.

It’s important to make your affirmations specific, positive, and in the present tense. Instead of saying “I will be successful,” say “I am successful.” This helps to reinforce positive beliefs and behaviours in the present moment, rather than in some distant future.

In addition to practising self-affirmations, another way to improve your self-talk is by practising self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend in need. Instead of berating yourself for your mistakes, offer yourself words of encouragement and support. Remember that nobody is perfect, and it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them.

Finally, surround yourself with positive influences and affirmations. Fill your environment with motivational quotes, uplifting music, and supportive people who believe in you and your potential. This will help to reinforce positive self-talk and create a supportive and empowering environment for your personal and professional growth.

In conclusion, self-talk can be a powerful force in shaping your success and happiness in life. By practising self-affirmations, self-compassion, and surrounding yourself with positive influences, you can improve your self-talk and cultivate a mindset of positivity, resilience, and self-belief. Remember, the way you talk to yourself matters – so choose your words wisely and watch how they can transform your life for the better.

Nothing happens until action is taken.

To your success.

Michael

P.S Don’t forget to register for the short Self-talk Program at Self-talk

If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)

Photo by Simon HUMLER on Unsplash