The Mindset That Changed The Way I Approach Goals

I feel more motivated and empowered to achieve my goals and make meaningful progress toward my biggest aspirations.

You’ve heard the old saying, “mind over matter.” It may seem like a trite phrase, but it points to something very profound: your thoughts and feelings have a tremendous effect on how you experience life. In fact, they can change your biology in surprising ways. For example, your thoughts affect your brain chemistry and the health of your immune system, which significantly impacts your physical well-being.

Every December, as the new year draws near, I begin to feel a sense of restlessness and anticipation. Like some of you, I sit down and think about all the new things I want to accomplish. I think setting goals for ourselves is a great way to channel our energy and put our new year’s enthusiasm to good use. But the key is not to let “achieving the result” become all-consuming.

When our new year’s resolutions focus too heavily on a specific outcome, our journey can quickly become unreasonably rigid and, quite frankly, unenjoyable. Our thoughts and feelings quickly become hostile, and this mindset can prove detrimental to our long-term success and sense of well-being.

I don’t think our goals should be the be-all and end-all of our new year’s experience. Instead, we may want to consider approaching things differently —with an “infinite mindset.” When we cultivate an infinite mindset, our goals and intentions become more about the journey and less about any particular destination. We start to pay attention to new opportunities, new experiences, and new folks—anything that will nourish our mind, body and soul.

Embracing an infinite mindset compels us to stay focused on the present moment while being flexible and resilient in facing challenges and setbacks. Freedom and possibility replace feelings of limitation when we realize that there are many ways to achieve our new year’s dreams, even if they don’t look exactly like what we originally envisioned. We begin seeing struggles as new opportunities to learn and grow rather than roadblocks that stand in our way. And we become more willing to take risks and try new things because we know that these new experiences will lead us on new paths of discovery and growth.

To an extent, some level of surrendering is necessary — a willingness to let go of control and welcome new things into our lives. For me, surrendering to new ideas and experiences is genuinely liberating; it helps me let go of my attachment to specific outcomes or preconceived notions and begin engaging with moments as they unfold.

I’ve learnt that an expansive and positive mindset can be the difference between a new year that helps us create habits that are sustainable and enjoyable and one that leaves us feeling frustrated, stagnant and unfulfilled.

of course, we’re all capable of developing an expansive outlook.

One way I try to lean into an infinite mindset is by giving myself permission to be imperfect. The idea is not to set rigid expectations for myself and instead allow room for change — without fear or reservation. The willingness to actively “charge” the process has been a big theme for me this year. And mindful mantras have helped tremendously. When I say them out loud, I reset my focus and commit to being present and open.

I thought I’d share some of them with you in the hope that they can serve as a gentle reminder and help you on your journey:

1. “Everything is unfolding exactly as it’s supposed to.”
2. “I choose to trust in the process of life and accept that sometimes the journey isn’t always linear.”
3. “By embracing new ideas and experiences, I allow new opportunities to come into my life.”
4. “Every step I take is a chance to learn something new.”
5. “I am where I am supposed to be.”
6. “Today is a new day.”
7. “Everything is working out for my highest good.”
8. “All things are possible.”
9. “The universe meets us where we are.”
10. “I trust my intuition to guide me in the direction of my best life.”
11. “Whether I reach my goals or not matters less than my willingness to keep trying, one step at a time.”
12. “I choose to be kind and compassionate with myself in this moment.”
13. “I am grateful for my journey and all the lessons it brings.”
14. “I am whole and complete in this moment.”

This new year, I invite you to cultivate an infinite mindset to guide you along your journey and help unlock new possibilities. After all, the only fundamental limits are those we put on ourselves.

Wishing you a healthy mind, body, and spirit in the new year; cheers to living with an open heart and an infinite mindset!

How are you approaching your new year?

This is the second installment of a series of articles exploring self-care sequences that enable us to be our best selves. The information in this post is based on my personal experiences and should not be taken as medical advice.

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