A Mindset for the Holidays

Everywhere we look these days we see evidence that mindset is very important. Athletes have known for many years the value of staying in the flow – a mental state. People trying to kick a habit like smoking know that taking your attention off cigarettes, shifting your mindset, is huge. Oprah has featured many writers over the years who have stressed the value of mindset. Her project with Eckhart Tolle stresses expanding one’s consciousness, which is moving from old beliefs and patterns of thinking to a broader mindset that encompasses much more. Mindset is mainstream.

Perhaps it’s time for a new mindset for the holidays. Some of the major holidays of the year celebrated by different religions have already passed. Thanksgiving is over as well. But no matter where we go we are surrounded by the trappings of Christmas, with Kwanza and Chanukah coming up for those who celebrate these days.  Gifts, decorations, food, and more can frazzle us while they dazzle us. It could be time to start some new traditions.

The real trick is knowing that our mindset is just a set of thoughts and beliefs inside of us, and we can change these if we choose. What is it we really want to accomplish in this holiday season? What is the true gift in our gift-giving? It seems that one reason we give gifts is to show appreciation to another person. When gifts are expected, and few thanks given, we wonder if appreciation is really the issue.  What message do you want your gifts to say this holiday season?

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Magnetize Your Life

Ever play with magnets when you were a kid? It was great fun, even though it became a bit monotonous over time.  Nothing was more accurate and never-fail than a magnet and some metal. The magnet was guaranteed to pull all the metal in your vicinity to you.

Now that we are adults, we get to play at the same game. Often we are playing unaware that we are pulling to us the aspects of life that we focus our thoughts on. It is quite amazing and is equal in accuracy to our childhood pastimes.

Now, what are we saying?  Take a look at your day’s high points and low points.  Jot down a few of the strongest elements of your day. Then ask yourself: “What thoughts did I pay attention to today?” and “How do these thoughts relate to the most memorable incidents of my day?”

We create the flavor of our day through our thinking as surely as a magnet will always attract metal.  Our accumulated thoughts, our Mindset, can be put to good use to create our lives.  Check everything around you – what does it look like, sound like, feel like? The quickest way to discover where your attention has been is to look around you. You have created this with the magnet of your mind.

P.S. You can always shift your focus and put your attention on what you want the most. This will surely change the picture of your life.

Mindset is Mainstream

Everywhere we look these days we see evidence that mindset is very important. Athletes have known for many years the value of staying in the flow – a mental state. People trying to kick a habit like smoking, know that taking your attention off cigarettes is huge – shifting your mindset.

Oprah has featured many writers over the years who have stressed the value of mindset. Her project with Eckhart Tolle stresses expanding one’s consciousness, which is moving from old beliefs and patterns of thinking to a broader mindset that encompasses much more. If you check Google for “mindset”, you’ll find over 15 million entries. Mindset is mainstream.

Many have looked to the workings of the mind to create a foundation for change. It is generally recognized that we have patterns of thinking and beliefs that have been developed over generations. Our minds try to hold on to these beliefs even in the face of new evidence that contradicts old beliefs.

With all the personal development programs and the focus on making your dreams come true, there is a whole body of information that suggests that by learning new habits of thinking, we can change our lives for the better.

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