Mindset Matters
BY : KRISTI THOMAS
I’ve recently started on a new health journey and in my accountability group we talk a lot about mindset shifts. One of the most impactful for me has been learning to embrace “progress over perfection”. I’ve been amazed that this one shift in my thinking has radically changed the way I nourish, move and honor my body. When progress is my goal, instead of perfection, small setbacks don’t throw me off track, they just serve to remind me that my next step matters.
Our mindset affects so much about how we interact with the world around us! My health journey is inspiring me to evaluate other areas of my life where a mindset shift might be in order.
I tend to be easily discouraged by the division and discontent that seem to be prevalent in our world today. I then think about the mindset that God prescribes in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things.” What a difference! For me, it’s the difference between feeling defeated and feeling inspired!
What if shifting our mindset could change the way we honor our husband, our children, our neighbors, and ourselves? If how we think influences how we live, then our mindset is a powerful tool. It can cause us to see life through a different lens and choose a different way when discouragement and discontent set in. I truly believe it is possible to make radical change, just by changing our mindset!
What if instead of thinking, “I’m always giving, giving, giving” – we try thinking, “Giving to others is important to me. My needs are also important and it’s okay to ask for what I need.”
What if instead of thinking, “I can’t believe I yelled again” – we try thinking, “I’m human and humans make mistakes. I’m capable of doing something different next time.”
What if instead of thinking, “this season of life is just too hard” – we try thinking, “this season is hard AND I can do hard things. I also can ask for help when I need it.”
What if instead of thinking, “I don’t have enough time in a day” – we try thinking, “I’m in control of my day, I get to decide what my priorities will be.”
What if we trained ourselves to think and speak from a place of inspiration instead of defeat? We’re not going to be perfect at it (remember progress over perfection!), but what if we made just a few mindset shifts today?
I love the new healthier you that I’m seeing. I could feel the difference it made at home with your family. I’ve been in a study too in the book of Philippians and have seen how important our mindset is to our actions. A mom sets the tone for the home, ‘if mama ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy’- it makes a world of difference if we are setting our minds on Christ or on the things of the world.
As Phil.2:5 says “ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”