8 powerful mindset hacks that will change your life

This post is about mindset hacks that will improve your quality of life.

I was a smart kid. I was the overachiever who was meant to get a fancy title at a university. I did go. Studied corporate communications and later journalism. Then crippling anxiety became my BFF. With years and a lot of googling later, I’ve learned a thing or eight about mindset.

Learn to master your mindset, and your world will change.

As a kid, I wanted to become an evil mastermind who would rule the world and the whole Galaxy. I was an ambitious kid. By now, you’ll have figured out that my plan for world domination failed. I’ve always had big goals and dreams, but something was always holding me back. Mostly mental health issues.

Maybe you’re feeling insecure, embarrassed, or just can’t seem to find the right step to take to guide you in the direction of your dream life. I know what that feels like.

To be honest, even now, with a couple of blog posts under my belt, I feel like the biggest fraud. That imposter syndrome is some toxic stuff. I’m also a raging introvert. Before I started blogging – I dealt with a whole lot of anxiety and fear of putting myself out there and going for it. 

I knew I had to work on my mindset. I’m still in the process of doing that, but already now, I’ve changed a lot.

I won’t lie and tell you that it’ll be a walk in the park. In case it is a park, it’s Jurassic Park. It takes a lot of time and effort to change thoughts and beliefs that are so deeply rooted in your mind. But changing the way you think about yourself can be the key to getting the results you want in life. If you don’t change, you’ll stay the same, and in five years, you’ll still be where you are today, and that thought upsets me. So, for me, there’s no other option; I have to change. I have to change for the present me, for the past me, and for the future me.

So far, here are the mindset tips and hacks I’ve learned that could change your life.

Your thoughts change your life

One of the very first things I learned from my own personal development journey is that everything starts with the voice in your head.

Everything you do in life, your achievements, failures, and others are shaped by what that voice is telling you about yourself. A thought you repeat over and over again in your mind will become your belief. 

Everything starts with a thought. If you’re not happy about the results you have in your life, you have the power to change everything by simply changing your thoughts. I started asking myself the way I’m thinking about myself right now, would I ever say that to a college, my BFF, or a loved one. The answer was always no. You can be critical, but don’t be hateful. Speak to yourself the way you would someone you care about. 

Identify your thoughts

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are my thoughts negative or positive?
• Do my current thoughts support the results/goals I want to obtain in my life?
• Can my current results be traced back to a thought?
• If negative, what can I think instead?
• How do I want to feel?

Write down how you’re feeling right now, and ask yourself what is the thought behind this feeling.

Then, make the change. 

Write down the results you want in your life and work your way backward using the equation below:

Results → Actions → Feelings → Thoughts

Make a note of what you want out of life and the supporting thoughts and beliefs that will get you there.

It takes practice, but daily work will give you results.  

You CAN’T change the past

I hate to break it to you, but you can’t change the past. What’s done is done. I’ve struggled with wanting to go back in time to change my mind, and I’ve spent endless hours thinking about the ‘what ifs’ scenarios. The only thing you can do with the past is learn from it and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes in your present and future.

Worry is a waste of time

Worrying will get you nowhere, and this is coming from me, a September Virgo, who could have made worrying about stuff into a career if that so existed. 

Do and take advantage of the things you can do/accomplish instead of worrying about all the things you can’t do/accomplish.

When I get into one of my ‘moods’,  I will ask myself, is there anything I can do about this right here and now? Do I have any power to change anything? Most of the time, the answer is no. This doesn’t make me happy, but it releases some of that frustration I’m feeling.

Don’t worry about things that are out of your control.

Embrace what you can control

A huge mindset win is to only focus on the areas of your life that are within your control. These are the things that are effective and that you have the power to change. Take advantage of what you can do/accomplish instead of worrying about the things you can’t do/accomplish.

For example:

• Career and education
• Love life
• Family
• Home and work environment
• Finances
• Your personal development journey

People vs your mindset

Choose your company wisely—quality over quantity. Surround yourself with those who uplift you and add value to your life. Distance yourself from anyone whose vibes and energy bring you down or make you feel unworthy.

Unfollow individuals on social media who don’t contribute positively to your mental well-being. Remember, social media can often trigger negative thoughts, so prioritize your mental health. Be unapologetically selfish—prioritize yourself and those who genuinely care about you. Assert boundaries and bid farewell to toxic relationships and embrace a life filled with positivity and love.

Ask questions

People -myself included- severely underestimate the power of asking questions. It’s a shame because it’s such a powerful tool for shifting your mindset around. 

The key is to ask the right questions. Ask questions that support the results you want in your life. And keep them positive and future-focused. 

For example:

• How can I feel happier today?
• How can I achieve my goal?
• What can I do to make today better than yesterday?

If you want to shift your mindset, you need your mind to work FOR you, not against you. We all got enough adversaries as it is; we don’t need our minds to be our number one enemy.

Enjoy the ride

We tend to focus more on our destination than the journey. That’s’ a mistake. Life doesn’t stop until the day you take your last breath; until then, personal growth and mindset growth is a never-ending journey.

Once you’ve reached a goal, another one appears, as it should. It’s what makes life worth living. It’s what happiness is all about. Being productive and smashing your goals.

The journey never stops, so learn to enjoy the ride, you badass boss babe. Don’t forget to reflect and evaluate your journey. Some day, I promise you, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come.

Other actions you can take