5 mindset shifts to embody in 2020
written by Jasmine Irven; collaborators for post linked below
The new year is here, and there’s truly nothing better than that feeling of a clean slate, and the endless opportunities that come with it – the chance to close one chapter and open another, shift our trajectory, make new connections, break up with bad habits, and embody new mindset shifts.
The new year is filled with opportunities to review your previous year, and set goals for the future. And while I am all for tangible, measurable goals, I also think there are a lot of intangible qualities that the new year gives us the opportunity to change. Included in this, are mindset shifts.
Many of us don’t realize how much impact our internal voice can have. We have so many thoughts and ideas pass through our mind each day we essentially talk to ourselves more than anyone else. And if you’re anything like me, that voice isn’t always the kind + supportive voice we want it to be.
Because our mindset is so present in our daily life, it can truly impact the way we think, act, and feel, and so it’s important to reflect on the mindsets you currently embody, and look at how you can shift them to be more positive and supportive moving forward.
Consider:
What are you constantly telling yourself that is not supportive of your higher self?
What is a limiting belief you’ve held that you want to change?
What needs to shift to move you closer to your higher self?
I recently asked some members of our community what mindsets they were looking to embody in 2020, and the below is what they shared! If you’ve been feeling like you’re ready for a shift, this post is for you! I hope you can truly relate to these, and that you’re able to find a source of inspiration and connection in the content.
We’re diving deep, clarifying the mindsets and habits that will be truly supportive of our goals moving forward, and we’d love for you to join us. If you feel so inclined, I’d love for you to share a mindset you’re looking to shift in 2020 in the comments so that we can all move forward together.
abundance
While I generally consider myself to be a positive person, sometimes negativity finds deceitful ways to cloud my otherwise sunshiny perspective. One way in which I notice this happens most often for me, is through comparison: comparison of myself to other people, comparison of where I am in life versus where I want to be (and where I wish I was right now), and even comparison of what I have and haven’t accomplished. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “comparison is the thief of joy,” and boy was he right. In my experience, the best way to counteract comparison is through gratitude; coming from a place of love and abundance instead of a place of lacking; seeing your life for all it IS rather than all it is not.
So in 2020, I’m choosing to live a life full of abundance and leave behind any feelings of lack. My goal is that through this mindset shift, I will let go of feeling like it’s never enough and begin to clearly see my life for the successful adventure that it is.
Alisha Hunter | author of just peachy positivity | @justpeachypositivity
happiness + presence
Between my mental and physical health, 2019 was not kind to me. My circumstances have caused my mindset to drift towards depression, which in turn has caused me to lose motivation and focus throughout my day. I have already begun to take steps to overcome this and my aim for 2020 is to embody enough practices into my life that will help me to build a happier and more present mindset.
My goal for this is simple - create a loose “schedule” that outlines tasks I will need to complete each day. I hope to begin each day with a 10 minute meditation (shoutout to the Headspace app for effective guided meditations) and end my evening by writing, either reflectively or creativity. In between that, I will spare at least an hour for hobbies (reading or video games), ensure I eat three well-balanced and healthy meals, and incorporate physical activity into my day, even if its as simple as walking an extra block to the next bus stop.
By pinning these daily goals onto my board, I will have a visual reminder to complete each task, and if all goes well, they will help me to work towards living each day more mindfully.
Christina Tucci
procrastination
Something that I’ve always been knowingly guilty of is procrastination. I’ve always admired motivated individuals who do not fall prey to this habit and wanted to be one myself, but somehow procrastination always sneaks in there and gets in the way. I think putting things off is something that we’re all guilty of at times, but for me, I’m guilty of it more often than not.
I always say I’m going to change my ways, improve myself, and meet that deadline without feeling intense pressure, but for some reason I seem to like the rush of “will I make it in time”? Procrastination has gotten in the way of my school, diet, exercise, bad habits, etc., and it’s a cycle that’s so hard to break. but, this year, I’d like to leave behind the ‘putting things off’ mindset; this year I’d like to shift that mindset to something much more productive.
I’m hoping that looking back at the negative effects that procrastination has had on my life will fuel my motivation for the future. and more tangibly, i will be trying to shift away from distractions like social media (on which I waste a lot of time), in order to focus more on what matters.
enjoying the process
I am a huge advocate of personal development, setting goals, and continuously looking at how I can improve my life. Each of these qualities is in pursuit of the bigger dreams I have for myself, and the person I want to become. However, because of this, I am continually focused on the future: working feverously to check things off my to-do list, rushing through tasks to get them done, and staying up late and getting up early to avoid wasting time.
On the other end of the spectrum though, is mindfulness: being focused on the present. Yes, it may not be as glamorous as the vision I have of my future life, but the present is truly all that we have. It is the present that holds moments of laughter and tears, love and heartbreak, creative sparks and writers block. And it is these moments that shape us, teach us the lessons we need to learn, and help us shift into the future self we dream of.
I know I will always have something more that I am working towards, but if continue to use these as measures of happiness (i.e. I will be happy when I get that car, that job, that house, etc.), I will never truly find happiness where I am: in the process.
Tangibly, this means adding more space into my days. More time to meditate, to sit and sip my coffee, to write just for fun, to have moments of silence, moments of spontaneity, and moments of boredom. It means yes, still looking forward and using that as a compass for how I want to live out my days, but also reflecting, breathing, and finding happiness in the mundane.
Jasmine Irven | founder of sustainable bliss collective | @sustainableblissco
shifting from scarcity
An important mindset I want to consider in my every day is abundance and scarcity. I realize that these two words can mean different things to different people. Abundance can refer to meaningful relationships with family or friends, monetary success, or good grades in a challenging class. Society tends to put scarcity in the spotlight, and it is easy to normalize this mindset. Adopting a scarcity mindset is hindering and invites pessimism into one’s life. For some (such as myself in 2019) abundance and scarcity can even represent two extremes: success vs. failure.
Adapting an abundance mentality = optimism and positivity (two things that I value very much), whereas being trapped in a lifestyle focused on scarcity can cause oneself to dismiss opportunities without even realizing it. Reflecting now, I have had times of extreme scarcity within the past few months. Graduating from university has brought unanticipated changes into my life in many aspects. during my search for my ‘grown-up job’, I dismissed opportunities that didn’t fit my idea of my perfect career. I focused on the preconceived idea of how my life “should look” (also influenced by societal norms), rather than taking a moment to realize the abundance of opportunities surrounding me.
I am forever grateful for the abundance in my life. I have always believed that life works in mysterious ways, and (as cliché as this sounds) that everything happens for a reason. I might not always know why life works this way, but I’ve learned to grow from my experiences and will be moving into 2020 with a more accepting and positive mindset.
reflection + implementation
Take what resonates and leave the rest. It’s impossible to make every change you want to make in your life simultaneously. The idea behind sustainable bliss is to curate intentional habits + routines that are small but sustainable - meaning you keep up with them and aren’t overwhelmed by them.
No one needs a laundry list of things they aren’t doing, so instead of seeing this post as that, pick 1-2 that really resonate with you (or journal on your own using the prompts below) and then determine a couple ways you can begin implementing them today.
Consider WHY you want to shift a specific mindset, why the current mindset is holding you back, and what the new mindset will bring into your life instead. Then consider what you can start doing TODAY to begin shifting your mindset.
exercises + journal prompts for clarity
If you aren’t sure what mindsets you should really focus on shifting, here are a few exercises and prompts to help:
future vs. current self: essentially I want you to journal about the differences between the person you are and who you’d like to become, and find mindset shifts you’d like to make in that comparison.
goal-setting: such an important practise (in my mind) for truly envisioning what your dream life looks like and making sustainable + focused goals you can action today to bring you closer to your dream life.
what do you want to bring more of into your life in 2020?
what 3 words do you want to embody in 2020 (creativity, determination, focus, etc.)
what areas of focus need more support in 2020 (finance, self-care, relationships, etc.)? what limiting beliefs do you hold in these areas?
what do you feel held you back in 2019? How can you begin to shift this?
get involved
I’m looking to make Sustainable Bliss a super collaborative community where we can all share insights, and cultivate supportive relationships with others interested in the same content as us. Looking to get involved? Fill out this form!
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