Are you happy with your life? Pain and negativity can be very powerful motivational tools. They are vital for creating great things in life once they don’t consume you!

The last year has made me realise that life is far too short to not make the most of it. We only have one life, so it’s time to grab life by the goolies and make use of every opportunity. I’ve spent far too many years floating along asking what if! Today mindset is a huge part of my life. Travelling means that there are not that many constants in my life at the minute, but I’ve made sure that this is one of them. I was originally very sceptical, but what I’ve come to realise is that our beliefs are extremely powerful.

Limiting beliefs generally originate from our fears and result in us rationalising why we stay in our comfort zones. We tend to draw lines in our own minds that seperate us from who we are and who we are not. The truth is we are the only ones holding ourselves back. We can be anyone or anything we want to be once we are prepared to put the work in. Have you ever wanted to do something, but let your doubts, fears, reasons or excuses stop you? Well, it’s only you that’s missing out at the end of the day. One of the main reasons people turn down challenging opportunities and new experiences is fear of failure or change. Is failure really the worst thing that can happen? From every failure comes a great lesson, personally I’d never look at it as a set back. We all have an innate hardwiring to avoid things that are new, scary or dangerous. I’ve come to realise that it’s all a case of mind over matter. Mindset is everything, it’s not something that just happens, it’s hard work, it takes time, a constant work in progress.

When we think about self care, day trips to the beautician or the spa, a shopping trip or night out springs to mind. While these outings definitely fulfill our desires most people neglect self care because they say they do not have enough time. Self care is a requirement, not a reward. In my opinion it’s essential. For me, self care began with removing negative self talk. We are generally the first people to talk ourselves down, we are our own worst critics, constantly focusing on the bad side of humanity, taking the joy out of life. I began to change my entire outlook on life by training my mind to see things in a new light. A new path that wasn’t clear to me before started to appear as I worked on my mindset. As things progressed, my goals and dreams became bigger and more ambitious. For a long time I used the gym and exercise as an outlet, which is great, but only solved my problems by reducing anxiety short term. There are so many ways in which we can improve our own mindset, by combining exercise and meditation with many other habits.

Seek positive, like minded friends

A positive social circle will act as an echo chamber, one that supports your dreams. They say we become that of the 5 people we spend most of our time with, so choose your friends carefully. Choose those who lift you up and say goodbye to those who tear you down or leave you feeling insecure. Find people who adopt the same values as you. While travelling this can be slightly difficult, however, I’ve been extremely lucky to meet some amazing people. As my own mindset started to change, it became easier to connect with more positive people. Travelling makes you realise who your true friends are at home, those who make an effort to stay in touch and maintain an interest. I’m extremely lucky to have the most supportive, loving friends, for which I’m so grateful.

Consume positive media:

In this day and age not one of us goes a day without exploring social media! Consuming positive media daily will alter your perspective through osmosis. Positive media is anything that emphasises the good in life. For example, the news is full of negativity – wars, murders, and politics all adding baggage to our thoughts. Who we follow on Instagram influences our thoughts, thoughts influence our actions and our actions dictate who we become. If you are following the wrong people, certain celebrities, influencers, or people making you feel bad about yourself, they are not supporting you on your journey. Immersing yourself in positive personal growth daily is powerful in changing your mindset.

Create a vision board/action plan:

This is about looking at the possibilities and then doing something to make it happen. While travelling, your goal time of action can vary but it’s still very much possible. We only really grow when we take action. Never allow paralysis by analysis, if you have a vision go with it. Put it out there, see it, believe it, achieve it.

Create a morning mindset routine:

A great way to start the day is with a positive affirmation. Positive affirmations are positive phrases that can be repeated over and over again, to teach you how to get rid of negative thoughts and encourage a positive attitude. Talk to yourself in the mirror, even if you feel silly, (I still do) with statements like, ‘Today is going to be a great day’, and ‘I love myself exactly as I am’, you’ll be amazed how much your day will improve. How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Having a gratitude journal to jot down what you are grateful for every morning opens many doors. It might not be obvious but there is plenty to be grateful for, a roof over your head, your friends and family, the coffee you are having. You’ll be surprised by the changes it can create. Creating an action plan or a to do list for the day can reduce stress, worry and put a structure on your day creating a feeling of anticipation and excitement, resulting in momentum for the day ahead. Every morning I listen to a podcast or an audio book at the gym or on my way to work. By focusing on positive messages at the beginning of the day you look at things differently. The power of positive thinking is a popular concept and can sometimes feel somewhat cliche. The physical and mental benefits of positive thinking are endless.

Turn failures into lessons:

Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, some bigger than others. Instead of focusing on how you failed, think about what you’ll do different the next time. Transform negative self talk into positive self talk.

I was originally very sceptical about the power of positivity and changing ones mindset until I began to practice it and reap the rewards myself. I began to realise that every limitation we put on ourselves is of our own creation. So often people set the bar so low because they think it isn’t ‘realistic’. The truth is we can do anything we put our minds to once we are prepared to put in the work. Many things seem unrealistic at the time of the original thought, but when you actually make a decision to do something your entire thought process goes into overdrive, figuring out how it can be done. The right perspective has a strange way of making you see things clearly.

Your imagination is the starting point where all plans and ideas are created. We know that thoughts influence actions, what you think you become. The confidence associated with achieving a goal that once looked unrealistic will evolve a version of you that you never thought was possible. Your standards are raised and the bar becomes higher yet again. I think you’ll agree with me when I say the power of positive thinking is outstanding. The idea that your mind can change your world almost seems too good to be true. I’ve experienced first hand, the good that focusing on the positives can bring.

I’m a great believer that one positive thought can change your whole day and when repeated,your whole life. All it takes is practice and courage. Apply for that new job, lose that weight, enter that competition, ask that guy/girl out. Set the goal, see it, believe it, work for it, achieve it. There’s no limitations, by reducing your self limiting beliefs you will effectively release the brakes and continue to grow. Decide to be happy, you’ll see changes all around you. See your glass of life as half full rather than half empty.

‘If you aim for the moon and miss, you’ll at least hit the stars’ – Clement Stone