Are you missing the “winning mindset” you need to get things accomplished? Does it seem as if there is an invisible anchor tied to your ambition and creativity you just can’t shake? We all have days, or sometimes even weeks, that aren’t our most successful or productive. It’s inevitable.

But I’ve got some good tips to help you get back into that winning mindset flow. In no time at all, you will be back to champion status.

Are You Out Of Flow?

You know that you’re missing that winning mindset when you are out of flow. But what does out of flow mean exactly? It’s a bit of a personal experience, but for most, out of flow moments include the inability to get to the tasks done that you need to, your self-talk is critical, you’re tired and maybe even crabby, your focus is diluted and your planning skills feel like they’ve evaporated into thin air.

Now let’s compare that to in flow. Your days go by quickly, you feel accomplished in your to-do list, you are having fun, your self-talk is positive and encouraging, you’re nice to others and you feel purposeful. Which would you rather be – in or out of flow? Silly question right?

Getting In Flow With A Winning Mindset

Establishing a winning mindset and keeping it isn’t as difficult as you might think. Sure, when your runaway brain is in the middle of creating chronic doomsday scenarios, it might feel rather overwhelming. But it definitely doesn’t have to be.

Managing Your Runaway Brain

Let’s start with the #1 culprit of mayhem, our runaway brain.  What’s actually going on inside our head has everything to do with what we’re feeling. The good news here, is that we can change what we’re thinking. And then guess what? Our feelings change.

This might sound pretty simple, and it can be, but breaking it down more clearly will help you understand how to build a routine that supports behaviors keeping you in that winning mindset.

Back to the doomsday scenario going on in your head…you know exactly what I mean when I say that, don’t pretend that you don’t. Its the images of you tanking a sales presentation at work that you know like the back of your hand, convincing yourself that your heartburn is a sign of some rare disease you will undoubtedly die from within the next week or worse yet forgetting to pick up your child from school. Generally it’s irrational, you recognize it, but you let your brain take you there anyway.

“Establishing a winning mindset and keeping it isn’t as difficult as you might think.”

 

Make Your Brain An Ally

If it all begins and ends with the runaway brain, then how can we use it for good versus a source of frustration and self-destruction? With the right approach and care, your brain can absolutely be your ally. Here’s how to make it happen.

What’s Going On In There?

Your first step is monitoring your thoughts. But, what you will probably quickly realize, is that your warning sign isn’t your thoughts, it’s your emotions. Maybe you’ re feeling anxious, sad or angry. When this happens ask yourself  the following questions:

1.  What am I thinking that is making me feel this way?

2.  What’s the story that I’m telling myself?

3.  Is the story true?

4.  What meaning am I assigning to the story?

As you work through these questions you will likely find that you’re telling yourself a story that is unfounded. Your runaway brain has taken you to places that don’t exist, and even if they did exist, you can’t manage them from the future – you can only manage from the present.

Assigning meaning to the story is another noted skill of the runaway brain. It goes like this…we feel anxious because our brain has created a story that’s not true, we tell ourselves the story over and over again until it feels true, we assign meaning to ourselves and our life about the untrue story, and then we make decisions based on the completely unfounded story. Wow! That’s a lot of effort for something that doesn’t even exist!

A Better Process – Create A New Story

This is where you have opportunity. Opportunity to create the story that you do want to have in your life. The story that is true, empowering and positive.

Once you know what you don’t want, you can decide what you do want. And here is the beginning of calling forth the winning mindset that fits your life vision. Spending time contemplating how things should happen in order for you feel productive and focused is where you want your efforts.

This doesn’t have to be a difficult or laborious process. In fact, simply reversing the current story, may be all that you need. Move from failure to success. Easy as that. Consider going about it in this way.

Step 1 – Write down the top 3-5 key points of the current story.

Step 2 – Create your new story by transforming these key points to success by reversing them. Write  these out as well.

Step 3 – Take note of the difference in how you feel (your emotions) when you read the new story. Try reading it out loud for an even more powerful impact.

Here’s an example.

The story I’ve been telling myself is…

 ♦  I can’t finish all the work that I need to during my workday.

 ♦  The tasks are never-ending.

 ♦  I’ve never been able to do this job and I’m not going to be able to do it going forward.

 ♦  I’m tired and don’t feel well because of everything that I have to do.

 ♦  My business is going to fail if I can’t get everything done.

Instead my story will be…

♦  I’m easily able to finish the tasks that are important and matter most to my job.

♦  I’m well rested, feel healthy and do what’s necessary to make this true for myself.

♦  My business is successful and will continue to be successful.

♦  I like my job, find joy in helping others and feel grateful that I have the opportunity.

Keep Your Winning Mindset Alive

Once you’ve redesigned your story and adjusted your emotions, you just need to keep it alive. Again this doesn’t need to be a lengthy process, but you do need to commit to it. What’s important is that you “keep it alive” in your brain. A couple of easy ways to do this might be…

• Dictate the statements into your phone and play them a few times on your way to work or running errands. The sound of your own voice might be a bit strange at first, but it’s very effective.
• Write out the list and place it by your bed. Say the bullet points aloud or silently to yourself upon waking.  The affirmations you are making will stick with you throughout the day.
• Write the trigger words for each point on a post-it note and put it in places you where will see it often, like the bathroom mirror or your computer.
• Type out the statements and use them as a screen saver on your phone or computer.

“This is where you have opportunity. Opportunity to create the story that you do want in your life. The story that is true, empowering and positive.”

 

Yep, You’ve Got It!

Congratulations, you’ve just developed a “winning mindset” and a process to help yourself the next time you need a little reframe and focus. Don’t be afraid to switch up the process and make it your own. The more personalize you make it, the more you will make it a habit and maintain that Winning Mindset.

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