Introduction
Many people don’t realise how much they sabotage themselves by the way they think. And if you’re thinking right now ‘this doesn’t apply to me’, then that’s an example of what I’m talking about! Everyone can benefit from understanding the power their mind has over them, if they’re not aware of it.
What are you saying to yourself that is damaging your efforts at success?
Here are 5 mind mistakes that mean you’re getting in the way of your own success, perhaps without even noticing.
1. Your mindset is programmed for doing OK only
This is the normal mindset for most people. In fact, most people don’t even realise this is what they’ve done. So how can you find out if your mind is unconsciously programmed for mediocrity or not?
You have to listen to yourself. Listening to yourself is a skill, and takes time and patience to reap rewards. But those rewards stand you in good stead for the rest of your life in all areas. So it’s worth it!
To develop your ‘inner listener’, you can do several things.
- Write down the contents of your mind for five minutes. No censoring. No planning. Just whatever you hear from inside your head. Then read it. You’ll likely be surprised at how all over the place it is. The second part of this exercise is to write down the contents of your mind, but this time direct it to think about something in particular. See if there’s any changes. Again, you may be surprised at what you uncover.
- Practice listening to what is going on inside your own mind when you’re supposed to be listening to someone else. We all have this ability. What is happening inside you is often the most important thing that you should be listening to. Either stop the conversation and address it, or refocus your attention on the person you’re listening to and come back to your inner conversation later.
- While listening, you may discover some of your core beliefs (examples below). It is these kind of negative attitudes that interfere with success. For instance, if you secretly (or not so secretly) think things like
I have to work hard to make a lot of money
I wish I had what ……… has
There’s no way I can do ………..
I can’t afford it
The reason I’m not more successful is because…
I’ll never be rich and successful
This is self-sabotage. You may think it’s not that important, but evidence suggests otherwise. There have been plenty of studies that show that you create what you think about. So if you want to have a more successful business, then alongside the marketing, selling and general good business practice, you must address your mindset.
As Benjamin Disraeli said:
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think”.
2. Your Money Comfort Level is set at a low point.
We all have a money comfort level, for most of us it isn’t conscious. This is the level which you have never gone beyond in your income generating capacity. Try this exercise to see where your level is now: Bring to mind the highest amount of income you’ve ever brought in. It might be what is currently coming in. Now add on another £5K, and imagine you’ve just looked at your sales figures and you see that this is the amount you have created this month. Notice how it feels. Keep on adding £5K amounts (or £2K, £10K or £20K, whatever works for you) until you get to a point where it just doesn’t feel realistic any more. That’s your maximum level. And it is very likely that you are nowhere near it. This is an internal limiting mechanism that you can change.
To start to change this you need to practice becoming more familiar with a level that is higher than you are currently creating. Don’t go too far ahead, just up it a bit. Then see it in your mind first, feel it in your body, become used to it as normal, and then you’ll have started to create the internal conditions for it to happen. Listen (see 1 above) to how your mind reacts to this, it is likely to bring up reasons why this won’t work/is silly/it’s just psychobabble/it’s not me it’s them out there (see 3 below)/ etc etc.
If you allow this limiting mechanism to rule the likelihood is that you’ll end up staying at the level you are comfortable with. It’s uncanny how this happens, by the way! It’s not unusual for income to rise and then suddenly regular clients announce they are leaving; or for your bills to rise significantly, or for your car to break down and you need a new one. And suddenly you’re back to the level of income you’re comfortable with. Just notice the next time unexpected expense occurs to you and find out if it might have anything to do with your MC level.
3. You’re being a victim
Well, no one likes admitting they’re a victim. But if you find yourself thinking things like ‘It’s not fair’, ‘I wish I had their …………’, or “If only they would ……. “, then you’re being a victim. And victims get stuck in the mud of blame and bitterness really easily. This requires requires being ruthlessly honest with yourself. It means being willing to change direction; to admit that you were wrong, or are wrong; to be open to new ideas; and to change strategy if you’re not achieving what you said you wanted to achieve. You won’t be able to do any of these if you’re being a victim. So examine your attitudes right now and find out in which areas of your life you have a tendency towards being a victim. Become a victor of those areas instead.
4. You need to stop wishing and start committing
Too many people say things like -
‘I wish it would be different;’
‘I wish you’d shut up’;
‘I wish you’d stop behaving like that’
‘I wish I was fatter/thinner/had more clients/was cleverer/knew more about the internet/was more successful’…
Wishing will get you nowhere. It’s a bit like blame – very socially acceptable, and therefore hard to pinpoint when it’s being detrimental. The way out is, again, to notice you’re doing it; then to stop being a victim about it; then to renew your commitment to what you want. (Which presupposes you know what you want – which is another key challenge!)
So commit now to noticing when you use that word ‘wish’ and choose to replace it with a more appropriate word for the situation – or just let go of whatever it is you’re wishing for.
5. You’re forgetting to practice gratitude
I hated this idea when I first heard it, over thirty years ago. Practicing gratitude! I thought that was for suckers. But over the years I realised that it made me feel good, so why wouldn’t I do it. If you’re someone who thinks the way I used to, then that’s definitely an example of poor thinking. So think rich and start being grateful for what you have got. It works – or at least it works if you do it for long enough.
Here’s an other exercise: When you’re next feeling low or challenged about your business, list 50 things you’re grateful for. That might sound a lot, but the point here is that you’re wanting to change how you’re feeling, and that ain’t going to happen after just listing 5 or 10! So list the fifty and see how you feel after. I’ve practiced this a lot, so once I’ve got going, it comes really easy now. (Hint: most people aren’t going to get to 50. If you really want to demonstrate to yourself that you’re a successful, rich thinking kind of person, then you won’t be one of those individuals who stop at 30 things).
Summary
You’ve had the opportunity to identify which Mind Mistakes you might be making. What will you take from this to change the way you do your business
I have used the principles I write about here in RichThinkers to bring about all kinds of things in my life, including running a successful counselling practice and health clinic business. Coming from a place of inspiration has enabled me to bring meaning and magic into all that I do, and my background in psychotherapy and counselling, combined with practical business skills, means I am uniquely positioned to help you in both the inner and the outer levels of success. (more…)
5 Mind Mistakes Business People Make and What To Do About Them
Introduction
Many people don’t realise how much they sabotage themselves by the way they think. And if you’re thinking right now ‘this doesn’t apply to me’, then that’s an example of what I’m talking about! Everyone can benefit from understanding the power their mind has over them, if they’re not aware of it.
What are you saying to yourself that is damaging your efforts at success?
Here are 5 mind mistakes that mean you’re getting in the way of your own success, perhaps without even noticing.
1. Your mindset is programmed for doing OK only
This is the normal mindset for most people. In fact, most people don’t even realise this is what they’ve done. So how can you find out if your mind is unconsciously programmed for mediocrity or not?
You have to listen to yourself. Listening to yourself is a skill, and takes time and patience to reap rewards. But those rewards stand you in good stead for the rest of your life in all areas. So it’s worth it!
To develop your ‘inner listener’, you can do several things.
This is self-sabotage. You may think it’s not that important, but evidence suggests otherwise. There have been plenty of studies that show that you create what you think about. So if you want to have a more successful business, then alongside the marketing, selling and general good business practice, you must address your mindset.
As Benjamin Disraeli said:
2. Your Money Comfort Level is set at a low point.
We all have a money comfort level, for most of us it isn’t conscious. This is the level which you have never gone beyond in your income generating capacity. Try this exercise to see where your level is now: Bring to mind the highest amount of income you’ve ever brought in. It might be what is currently coming in. Now add on another £5K, and imagine you’ve just looked at your sales figures and you see that this is the amount you have created this month. Notice how it feels. Keep on adding £5K amounts (or £2K, £10K or £20K, whatever works for you) until you get to a point where it just doesn’t feel realistic any more. That’s your maximum level. And it is very likely that you are nowhere near it. This is an internal limiting mechanism that you can change.
To start to change this you need to practice becoming more familiar with a level that is higher than you are currently creating. Don’t go too far ahead, just up it a bit. Then see it in your mind first, feel it in your body, become used to it as normal, and then you’ll have started to create the internal conditions for it to happen. Listen (see 1 above) to how your mind reacts to this, it is likely to bring up reasons why this won’t work/is silly/it’s just psychobabble/it’s not me it’s them out there (see 3 below)/ etc etc.
If you allow this limiting mechanism to rule the likelihood is that you’ll end up staying at the level you are comfortable with. It’s uncanny how this happens, by the way! It’s not unusual for income to rise and then suddenly regular clients announce they are leaving; or for your bills to rise significantly, or for your car to break down and you need a new one. And suddenly you’re back to the level of income you’re comfortable with. Just notice the next time unexpected expense occurs to you and find out if it might have anything to do with your MC level.
3. You’re being a victim
Well, no one likes admitting they’re a victim. But if you find yourself thinking things like ‘It’s not fair’, ‘I wish I had their …………’, or “If only they would ……. “, then you’re being a victim. And victims get stuck in the mud of blame and bitterness really easily. This requires requires being ruthlessly honest with yourself. It means being willing to change direction; to admit that you were wrong, or are wrong; to be open to new ideas; and to change strategy if you’re not achieving what you said you wanted to achieve. You won’t be able to do any of these if you’re being a victim. So examine your attitudes right now and find out in which areas of your life you have a tendency towards being a victim. Become a victor of those areas instead.
4. You need to stop wishing and start committing
Too many people say things like -
Wishing will get you nowhere. It’s a bit like blame – very socially acceptable, and therefore hard to pinpoint when it’s being detrimental. The way out is, again, to notice you’re doing it; then to stop being a victim about it; then to renew your commitment to what you want. (Which presupposes you know what you want – which is another key challenge!)
So commit now to noticing when you use that word ‘wish’ and choose to replace it with a more appropriate word for the situation – or just let go of whatever it is you’re wishing for.
5. You’re forgetting to practice gratitude
I hated this idea when I first heard it, over thirty years ago. Practicing gratitude! I thought that was for suckers. But over the years I realised that it made me feel good, so why wouldn’t I do it. If you’re someone who thinks the way I used to, then that’s definitely an example of poor thinking. So think rich and start being grateful for what you have got. It works – or at least it works if you do it for long enough.
Here’s an other exercise: When you’re next feeling low or challenged about your business, list 50 things you’re grateful for. That might sound a lot, but the point here is that you’re wanting to change how you’re feeling, and that ain’t going to happen after just listing 5 or 10! So list the fifty and see how you feel after. I’ve practiced this a lot, so once I’ve got going, it comes really easy now. (Hint: most people aren’t going to get to 50. If you really want to demonstrate to yourself that you’re a successful, rich thinking kind of person, then you won’t be one of those individuals who stop at 30 things).
Summary
You’ve had the opportunity to identify which Mind Mistakes you might be making. What will you take from this to change the way you do your business