Importance of Mindset
Why Mindset is Important?
Since 1992, we have had the privilege to connect with individuals to process over 10,000 mindset assessments with people from all walks of life. A few of the key patterns we have found are as follows:
that approximately 97% of our clients have some aspect of their mindset they were motivated to work on.
influences from earlier stages of development / life create the foundations for ones mindset.
people unconsciously mobilize aggressive defensive or passive defensive behaviours when they do not feel safe.
everyone has their own very personalized trigger points.
coping mechanisms from childhood were very important to have in place however once in the adult stage of life most of these approaches cause more self-defeating impacts than they provide support.
an unworked on mindset (not taking personal responsibility) with one long defensive extension or too many ineffective thinkings styles (aggressive or passive) will always cause self-defeating impacts, personal crisis, high levels of stress, addictions and sign and symptoms of ill-health (due to mind / body connections)
State of Mind Defined
Your state of mind is your emotional mood or mental state at a particular time due in part of in whole or in-part to the situation you find yourself in. Example: needing to speak to a group "you get a temporary set of the gitters" or you are ready "sad and depressed" because you dog passed away. People generally understand and are patient with a persons 'state of mind' especially when they understand the circumstances of what put you in that state.
Mindset is much more deeply engrained and managed consciously and in-part unconsciously by the amygdala.
The established set of attitudes, values and belief held by an individual. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of external situations. Example: an individual can have a self-actualized mindset (growth orientated), an avoidance mindset (passive / defensive orientation) or an oppositional mindset (aggressive / defensive). The ineffective "mindsets" are most often due to triggers from external stimuli and the are much more motivated unconsciously by defensive thinking styles. We all very much enjoy the constructive mindset when we socially engage with others and we find the passive for aggressive mindset's much more frustrating and stressful for self and / or others. For a more extensive definition of the twelve (12) mindsets in the LSI (life style inventory) click here:
The Challenge of Change
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
The Value of Change
Why are some people more successful and content in life than others? The answer lies in their ability to advance aspects of a positive / constructive mindset and work to recognize and change self-defeating behaviors and thinking styles.
Rather than merely living or ignoring characteristics that impede personal and professional performance, those who are most effective take action to continually improve themselves.
Developing the internal motivation and initiative necessary to make positive behavioral changes can result in:
Greater satisfaction with personal and professional life;
Stronger ability to mitigate or overcome adversity and / or recover from a crisis;
More opportunities for advancement at work on projects that are personally meaningful;
Improve the relationships with family, friends, and coworkers;
Increased productivity and improved quality of products or services;
Heightened self-esteem and confidence to do the things you want to do;
A fuller, more rewarding and satisfying life.
You Can Change
As human beings, we are capable of re-directing our lives simply by altering the way we think. It is this fact it makes change possible - if you first take the time to understand yourself, and then make a serious effort to use what you learn. Ultimately, the choice is yours; you can become complacent with yourself as you are (not investing your growth and development), or explore your grow, potential and make the most of your abilities.
Change can be threatening to many people – however it does not have to be that way. Fear about changing, resisting to new ways of doing things, and the simplicity of sticking with what may have worked in the past are just a few of the many ideas that prevent us from making changes. The old adage, this is how I have always done things often needs to be closely examined.
In addition to being highly productive and rewarding, the process of change can actually be exciting and fun. The benefits achieve through the process of change far outweigh the perceived risks. One of the greatest benefits is decreasing the negative signs and symptoms of stress related impacts on health.
What Can You Change?
You can't always change or influence the people around you, but you can control your reactions to them. These reactions originate in your thoughts, or the way you perceive and process information and experiences. Your thoughts are powerful resources; what you think defines who you are and what you do in every aspect of your life. By modifying what you think, you can change how you behave.
Using the LSI to Initiate Change
Completing and reviewing your LSI "mindset" assessment is the vital first step in the process of changing your behaviour and moving forward on a path of recovery. The inventory has undergone years of research, and has been established as a valid, reliable way to help you take an objective look at yourself.
You can use the LSI to:
Understand what you were like now, and will cause you to be that way.
Recognize the consequences of your behavior and how it affects yourself and others.
Pinpoint your own unique strengths, as well as any "stumbling blocks" to your effectiveness.
Identifying more constructive ways of thinking and behaving.
Decide what aspects of your behavior you want to change.
Develop a specific strategy to help bring those changes about.
Moving from Thought to Action
Merely completing the LSI "mindset" assessment will do little to advance your desire to improve yourself. To receive the fullest benefit from the inventory, devote some time to interpreting your LSI scores (by reading you customize leadership assessment report), thinking about what you learned, and setting goals around what you want to change.