7 effective ways to build a strong mindset

Ever wonder why some people emerge from a bad experience stronger while others are left traumatized from the very same experience? Or how some people can pivot when things don’t go their way, and for others, one bad experience will have a domino effect on the rest of their day?

The answer is in their mindset. A strong mindset is the commonality that those who are seemingly unphased by failures or bad days possess.

A strong mind gives you the capability to face life’s challenges and obstacles productively and effectively. Strong-minded individuals are more equipped to take risks and deal with difficult situations and people.

But how exactly do you get a strong mindset?

The mind is a muscle; like any muscle, it is something you develop over time and continuously work to maintain. Here are 7 effective ways to build a strong mindset:

Build a strong body, build a strong mindset

This is a bit of a chicken or the egg situation, but I can tell you that once one weakens, the other starts to follow. The trick is learning which is more easily motivated, your body or mind. For example, I find it easier to get physically motivated. Now, if my mind is feeling lazy, this will be more difficult, but I know if I can push myself to do something good and challenging for my body, I will be more motivated and seize the rest of my day or to-do list. Challenging doesn’t have to be something as intense as an hour-long resistance workout; it can be a short brisk walk or a cold shower.

The bottom line is you really can’t have one without the other. If you’re struggling with your mindset or feeling unmotivated, down or lost, challenge your body. It will get easier with each day, and your mind will follow.

Kathleen exercising at our apartment in Colonia 5 De Diciembre, Puerto Vallarta Mexico

Practice daily meditation for a strong mindset

Meditation is the most effective way to strengthen your mind. It can bring a sense of calm and peace to your mind after a particularly stressful day and it can help improve focus and concentration. What squats are to your glutes, mediation is to your mind (see point 1).

Meditation challenges you to be present in the present moment. So often, we’re thinking about the past, the future or the hypothetical that we forget that the only reality is the present and the present is the only thing we can control.

The ability to fully be in the present will allow you the clarity to understand what you can control and what you cannot. Making it easier problem solve on the spot.

There are many ways to practice meditation. You could start by simply sitting alone quietly in a room, focusing on your breathing. Or you could use a guided meditation that will walk you through how to quiet your mind and perhaps give you some prompts.

Shift your perspective

The next way to build a strong mindset is to reframe how you view the world and yourself. Are you a glass half-empty or glass half-full type of person? Chances are, if you are a glass half-full personality, you will find it easier to recover from negative experiences because you can find the positive in them.

A negative mindset will encounter a bad situation and think, “why is this happening to me”. While a positive/growth mindset will meet the same problem and think, “what is this trying to teach me?”. It is a matter of focusing and dwelling on the problem versus acknowledging the problem and then looking for solutions or lessons.

Next time you face a roadblock, try and stop and ask yourself, “what can I do to improve or fix this?”, or “what can I learn from this that will help avoid this problem in the future?”. By doing this, you are turning your focus on the things you can control. If you are able to control something, you are able to change it and therefore improve it.

Hold yourself accountable

This brings me to my next step toward a strong mindset: Accountability. Many of us struggle with this because it forces us to be honest with ourselves and admit that we play a significant role in the situations we find ourselves in, good or bad. Once you can take accountability for the steps that YOU took to land wherever you did, you will feel more control of things and work towards improvement. Just remember, holding yourself accountable does not mean holding yourself hostage.

Gentle self-talk for a strong mindset

Your inner dialogue directly impacts how you feel about yourself and how your carry yourself in the world. Strong-minded people know their worth, capabilities and skills and can communicate them with confidence.

If your self-talk is negative, try this method to shift your inner dialogue: make time for daily reflection (this pairs well with journalling or meditation). Think about what progress you made that day towards your goal and celebrate that achievement. Did you wake up a bit earlier today? did you finish a book? maybe start a book? did you crush a workout? Whatever the progress you make, acknowledge it and note the effort it took to complete.

Surround yourself with like minds

As they say, “you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with”, so be mindful of who those people are and what they add or subtract from your life.

If you want to strengthen your mindset, improve your outlook on life and grow as a person, it is CRUCIAL to surround yourself with like-minded people. These can be people in your life that challenge you, hold you accountable and want to see you succeed. Spending more time with these friends will help keep you motivated and on-track.

If you need to grow this circle, consider seeking out meet-ups or facebook groups for people with similar interests or goals. For example, if you’re a blogger in a new city, look for a blogger meet up or co-working cafe. Not only will you potentially meet new friends, it’s also an opportunity to network and get your name/brand out there.

Be mindful of what you consume

You are what you eat. Be intentional with what you consume, specifically, what media you take in. We are spending more and more time on social media so it makes sense that the media we consume would impact our mood and mindset. There isn’t anything wrong with following reality tv, gossip and prank accounts but I would compare that type of content to junk food. A little junk food may be ok, but what happens when all you eat is junk food? You don’t feel well or you get sick.

For our bodies to feel well and be healthy, we need to consume nutritious food. The same goes for our minds. So you want to ensure you consume more substantial, healthy content. Examples include health and fitness, DIY, spiritual/religious, and motivational (obviously) accounts are just some examples of categories that will motivate you or uplift your mood. Or if TV is your media of choice, try replacing Netflix with podcasts.

Not convinced? I challenge you to unfollow some of those “junk food” accounts and replace them with accounts in the categories above or whatever matches your goals. See how you feel after a week. Were you more motivated? Did you learn or try something new?

Take away

A strong mindset will prepare you for dealing with obstacles and challenges that are part of life. Developing this type of mental strength takes daily reflection and practice. While you are working towards this, remember to set challenging yet achievable goals every day and take the time to celebrate yourself when you achieve them.

If you want to develop a strong mindset, challenge yourself to one of the methods above for a week. See how you feel and think afterwards and if you’re comfortable, share your experience in the comments. Or maybe, you’re already on your mindset strengthening journey, what methods did you use?

“The things you think about determine the quality of the mind. Your soul takes on the colour of your thoughts”.

MARCUS AURELIUS

-written by Kathleen