A Positive Mindset Archives ~ Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting

February 19, 2025

Having Courage – The Way to Do Anything

Having courage is the way to do anything you want. Sounds easy, right? If having courage were easy, failure would not come in to play, as people would just do whatever task they want. Their goals would be a natural occurrence, and done quickly, as people would not hesitate or not move forward.

But, we know this is just an idle dream as people do hesitate, they don’t go after their desires, and they do fail. The question arises as to why there are some people who do fail but can get back up and try again. Think of The Wright Brothers or Walt Disney whose brilliant ideas didn’t work out…. until they did.

They, and many others like them, had the courage to try and try again, and again. Despite public outcry and judgements, these brave souls displayed courage to move forward despite what criticisms they faced.

We – you – need to have this same mentality to achieve your goals and dreams. But, what exactly does the word courage mean and how does one get it?

Courage is one’s ability to confront pain, fear, uncertainty, intimidation

or danger. There are different types of courage, which may range from

endurance and physical strength to mental stamina and innovation, which can be distinguished between physical and moral courage.

Physical courage involves having the courage when facing hardship, physical pain, the threat of death or death itself. Think of those in battle or pushing through after being laid off from a job.

Moral Courage is the ability of a person to act rightly when facing popular opposition, scandal, discouragement or shame. This one is very difficult for some people as they don’t want to ‘make waves,’ stand out, or go against popular opinion.

So what does separate those who act courageously versus those who don’t:

Feeling fearful but taking action despite it
Following your heart, i.e. passions
Standing up for what is right

These have all been briefly discussed earlier, so how does one become courageous?

Mindset plays the biggest part – you have to know your strengths and abilities and think/believe you can achieve. Knowing your strong-suits will give you more trust in yourself for you to rely on them; look at what you are known for, such as problem-solving, strategizing a goal, or it could be your sunny disposition. Knowing our strengths will get us through.

Believe – a part of mindset are beliefs which become fundamental and hard to change. Thoughts turn to actions which turn to beliefs. The more you think positively and think you can, then take some sort of action, the more you will believe you can do and achieve your desires. Daily, write down all your accomplishments, no matter how big or small. What did it take for you to do them – you might be surprised at your answers.

Take action – being courageous pushes you through any fear that may stop you, which is done by acting on your desires. Fears can hold you back as you may be thinking of a negative outcome or have talked yourself into how lacking you are. The brain is actually looking to protect you by being ‘safe’ and staying where you are. However, taking some type of action will lead to your desired outcome; start with the smallest step so your fear center doesn’t activate.

Visualize – see yourself with the desired outcome, as well as taking necessary actions that led you there. This is a great way to activate your brain for success. Utilize all of your senses in this exercise in detail. Our visual sense is one of the most powerful of the five senses so use it; you can close your eyes and ‘see’ you taking any actions to reach your goal; you can take a picture, draw, or find one from a magazine; what you see you start to believe and it primes your brain to go after it. I once consulted for a woman who had a picture of a house at least 20 times in her office; she said it was her dream home and she never wanted to forget what she was working for. She did get that house. It worked for her and can for you, as well.

Having courage does not equate with some large-scale event; for some people, it can mean getting out of bed or picking up the phone to schedule a job interview. Go back and look at all that you have accomplished in your life to ‘see’ how courageous you really are.

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”

(Maya Angelou)

January 13, 2025

Being Kind as You Move into 2025

As we are now into 2025, a lesson to adopt is to express kindness, not just to others but to yourself. Many people don’t put themselves front-and-center, often out of guilt or worry what others may think if they did.

But, if you aren’t kine to yourself first, how can you express this to others in an unconditional way? It’s like when you’re flying on a plane and they tell you to put your oxygen mask on first before your children if there is an emergency.

Being kind can mean not pushing yourself to make or achieve goals, to lose weight, or to be someone or something new. While those are desirable goals, sometimes formulating them can lead to stress and anxiety over what a goal can entail, plush the thought of achieving them.

What I’ve found is that things will work out, one way or another. Being kind can mean just being and living in the moment until the time is right to come up with a goal you’d like to achieve and how you plan to do so. Pushing too hard can lead to a host of adverse emotions that can detract from you mental health and happiness.

Sometimes, just allowing can lead to good outcomes you want; often, not feeling pressured will open up your creativity and spark the motivation to reach them. Put kindness on your to-do list for this year and practice daily. Remember, the more you consistently do an action it will lead to becoming a habit that can change your life.

October 16, 2024

12 Signs You Lack Clarity – Why You Need It

Have you ever felt ‘lost’ with your life? Perhaps the reason is you lack clarity to go after what you truly desire.

Clarity is essential for achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. When you lack clarity, you may experience frustration, indecision, lack of motivation, and other negative emotions. Before you can begin, it’s important to identify the root-causes for lacking clarity.

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome obstacles to gain clarity in life; see if you identify with any of these so you can get started making needed changes.

Here are 12 signs you lack clarity in your life:

Frustration – One of the signs that you’re lacking clarity is feeling frustrated. You may feel like you’re working hard, but you’re not making progress, or you’re unsure what to do next. To overcome frustration, take a step back and evaluate your situation. Ask yourself if you’re clear about your goals and what steps to take to achieve them. If not, take some time to clarify your goals and create a plan of action.
Indecision – You may feel like you’re unable to choose between multiple options, or you’re not sure what direction to take. Most people are either afraid of making the ‘wrong’ decision or living with the consequences. To overcome indecision, gather more information and weigh the pros and cons of each option. Consider what’s most important and which option aligns with your values and goals.
Not Knowing Where to Begin – If you’re unsure where to begin, it could be a sign that you lack clarity. This is overwhelming, but breaking things down into smaller steps is key, ala the kaizen method. Start by identifying the first step you must take, then focus on that one task and doing it until it becomes a habit. Once you complete it, move on to the next step with the same system.
Not Trusting Your Decisions – When you lack clarity, you may second-guess your decisions leading to a lack of trust in yourself and your abilities. To overcome this, take the time to reflect on your values and goals. Make decisions that align with these, and trust that you’re making the right choices.
Being Unproductive or Procrastinating – If you’re feeling unproductive or find yourself procrastinating, it could be a sign that you lack clarity. Identifying and addressing the root cause of your procrastination is essential. Is it because you don’t know where to begin or are unsure what steps to take next? Once you identify the cause, take steps to overcome it.
Inconsistent Effort – Inconsistent effort to achieve your goals can be a sign that you lack clarity. This could be due to not having a clear plan or not being clear about your goals. To overcome this, create a plan with specific, measurable goals and action steps. Track your progress and adjust as needed.
Lack of Motivation – When you lack clarity, you may feel unmotivated and uninspired. To overcome this, take some time to reflect on your values and goals. Reconnect with your “why” and remind yourself of the bigger picture. Break down everything into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate your progress.
Overwhelm and Burnout – Feeling overwhelmed and burned out can be a signal, too. It’s essential to discover the cause of this overwhelm and take steps to address it. This could include delegating tasks, saying no to commitments that don’t align with your goals, or taking time for self-care.
Feeling Stuck – If you’re feeling stuck, it could indicate that you lack clarity. Take some time to reflect on what’s holding you back. Is it a lack of knowledge or resources, or are you unsure what steps to take? Once you identify the root cause, take steps to overcome it. Action overrides indecision, no matter how small the steps may be.
Low energy – Identifying and addressing the root cause of your low energy is vital. This could include getting more rest, eating a healthier diet, or reducing stress. Taking care of your physical health also positively impacts your mental clarity and focus.
Decreased Focus and Concentration – When you lack clarity, you may struggle to focus and concentrate on tasks. This could be due to feeling overwhelmed or not knowing where to begin. To overcome this, break tasks into smaller, manageable steps, focusing on one thing at a time. Create a distraction-free environment and give yourself regular breaks to recharge.
Negative Self-Talk -If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s hard to stay positive. To overcome this, practice positive self-talk and affirmations. Focus on your strengths and achievements and remind yourself that you’re capable of achieving your goals; write them down daily so you can remind yourself of past accomplishments to overcome any negative self-talk.

So, how did you do? A lack of clarity manifests itself in many ways. By identifying any of these signs, you can then take steps to gain greater clarity and move forward in any/all areas of your life. With clarity and focus, anything is possible (be sure to entertain them).

“If there is clarity about your plans, more often than not, you will be able to execute your plans.” (Jasprit Bumrah)

August 30, 2024