Important Perspective as a Turbo Thinker©
After years of shame and self doubt, many Turbo Thinkers have developed a fixed mindset. This can take the form of negative self talk and absolutes such as, “I’m just lazy,” “I never finish what I start,” or “I am an anxious person.” These limiting belief systems prevent us from trying anything new. They set us up for avoidance and procrastination. They are false friends whose lies protect us from further failure, but also forbid our growth.
By shifting to a growth mindset, we open ourselves to possibilities. We allow ourselves to dream because we trust that we will eventually find a way to accomplish our goals. We invite struggles, setbacks and failures that might crop up along the way because we know we will learn. We can put in the work, knowing that it might take time and a lot of practice to achieve our goals. We feel empowered to take charge of our actions and confident that we can manage obstacles and distractions.
Of course, by now we know about neuroplasticity. We are capable of creating new neural pathways at any age. We know that we are not born with a predetermined capacity, but that we can choose to develop our abilities. We know that we can grow our brains through the effort that might feel uncomfortable only because it is unfamiliar. Like muscles that shake, we witness real change happen. We embrace challenges and celebrate effort.
Here are some questions to ask ourselves:
Is it difficult? Or is it just unfamiliar?
What do I have to lose? What will I deny myself by not doing it?
What might I learn? How could I improve? How can I train my brain and make the gray matter more dense?
How can I see my mistakes as steps to success? Where do I see opportunities?
How can I celebrate my effort rather than wait until the end result?
We are not perfect, but works in progress. We just may not have mastered something yet.