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Career Success A to Z: M is for Mindset

by | Feb 28, 2017 | A to Z Series

Career Success A to Z: M is for Mindset

This article is part of a series. Learn more about it and access links to other articles in the series here.

It’s no secret that how you think impacts your reality. Whether or not you believe in the over-hyped concept of the Law of Attraction, there’s no denying this simple truth: Your mindset plays an enormous role in how you show up in the workplace. And how you show up effects how others perceive you, which ultimately influences how they treat you.

If you don’t believe you’re valuable, for instance, others will pick up on the subtle clues you’re sending out. They’ll hear it in your voice, see it in your actions, and read it on your face. Even if they don’t consciously recognize this message, they’re receiving it all the same.

In return, they’ll begin to agree with you. They won’t see you as valuable, and they’ll treat you accordingly.

Flip that idea on its head and it looks something like this: If you think you ARE valuable, others will pick up on that too, and as a result, they’ll treat with greater respect.

The hidden messages we send ourselves day in and day out are not as hidden as we think.

Your mindset also impacts your ability to problem solve and manage the daily frustrations and stressors inherent in any workplace.

When you walk into work with a chip on your shoulder, feeling put upon and irritable, your clever mind looks for ways to confirm what you already believe. Everything becomes more irritating. Your co-workers can do nothing right. Your boss becomes impossible to deal with.

However, walk into work with an attitude that says, “I can handle whatever comes my way. I’ll make it a good day, no matter what,” and everything becomes a little more manageable. Your clever mind again kicks in. It looks for ways to confirm what you believe—it seeks solutions in the face of challenge. It looks for the positive side in any situation.

Whatever you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it. Reality will, in essence, bend itself to accommodate your perspective. It sounds like magic, but it’s not.

Here’s the best part: Your mindset is 100% in your control. You have the power to change it at any time. It’s never set in stone.

Of course, that means that you have to work to maintain a positive mindset as much as you have to work to overcome a negative one.

But it’s worth it. Once you master your mindset, you’ll understand the power it holds.

A Personal Note…

Recently, I’ve been struggling a bit with this. As many of you know, I went full-time back into business for myself in September of 2016. It had been a goal of mine for a while and, as is often the case, I experienced a mild sense of discontentment immediately after achieving what I’d long been dreaming of.

Everything was (and is) going well! Business is good, I’m happy with the decision I made. But my inner-saboteur kicked in and I suddenly felt down and out. I was struggling to stay focused and motivated. I feared that, without a change, I would end up sabotaging my efforts with negativity.

A good friend of mine suggested that I keep a “Positive Aspects” journal, as a way of shifting my mindset. Each evening, I write down as many positive things as I can about my day—what I accomplished, the great people I spoke to, the exciting opportunities I pursued.

In doing this exercise, I’ve begun to find that more and more things fill my journal each day. Positivity is flowing toward me now, instead of away.

Has reality changed or have I? I think it’s a mixture of both. I feel more energized and focused, and as a result, I have more positive experiences.

For such a simple exercise, my Positive Aspects journal has truly created remarkable results.

When you find yourself struggling to shift your mindset—whether it’s about a certain situation or a general feeling of malaise—give this a try.

In my experience, few can naturally maintain a positive mindset all the time. Life is full of both negative and positive things; as humans, we see and feel both sides of the coin. We have to consciously put our attention on the side that empowers us and away from the side that drains us.

Fortunately, we have everything we need to do that.

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The Career Success Library is a convenient, affordable online learning center for career advancers including administrative professionals, emerging leaders, and anyone else who wants to leverage the power of ongoing professional development. 

About the Author

Chrissy Scivicque is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and certified Professional Career Manager (PCM). She is an author, in-demand presenter and international speaker known for engaging, entertaining, educating and empowering audiences of all sizes and backgrounds. Learn more here.

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