Changing your mindset is simple, yet difficult. It requires effort day in and out. There are no cutting corners, and no passing the work off to someone else. Changing your mindset lies within you choosing your daily thoughts, and what you do as a result of those thoughts.
Feelings come and go, life is up and down, and people say and do hurtful things. There is only one person responsible for their thoughts, and only one person who can change their thoughts- you.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
Do you have food to eat and water to drink?
Do you have a safe place to rest, live and sleep?
Do you have transportation, light, heat, internet, phone to communicate?
Do you have the ability to see, hear, smell, taste and all your limbs?
Do you have a parent or family member who is alive and loves you?
Did you have a parent (alive or passed) who loved you?
Do you have a job and source of income, or a partner who provides financially?
Do you have a partner who loves you and considers your needs in life?
Do you have friends who value you?
Do you have access to safe medical care?
Do you have someone to help if you get sick, need help or lose your job?
Do you have the ability to spend time you want with your kids, stay home with them if you want?
Do you have access to books and educational materials?
Do you work with a positive team or boss?
Do you have friends and family near by as a support system?
Do you have help at home with household responsibilities?
Do you have more time for yourself and your family because you don’t have a long commute?
Have you ever had to miss a meal or not be sure if you will eat that day or week?
Do your kids get access to the essential things they need (or extra things many do not)?
Do you have time and money to take breaks, see friends or travel?
Do you have a supportive co parent whether together or not?
Do you have sitters, nanny or family help with your kids?
Do you have a cleaning service or no job to allow more time to keep up with cleaning?
Do you have clean decent clothing?
Do you have hot water and air conditioning?
There is more to be considered, but change starts with reminding yourself all that you do have vs. what you don’t like.
Every day when you wake up before the worry list and to dos start going through your head, write down or say 3 things you are thankful for. It can be as simple as thank you for waking up and the chance to try again.
Every night in bed write down or say 3 things to be thankful for to train your brain to focus on the good things no matter how small
When we hear “just be grateful” while going through hard things, feeling stressed, in a rut or overwhelmed, it seems like a dismissal of our feelings. Feelings are valid, but what you do with them and how you handle the stressful things life throws at us all is where “being grateful” comes into play. Daily gratitude exercises in your head, written down, spoken out loud, in church, a prayer, or meditated on will change your thoughts and mindset.