Open Thinking – What’s Your Mindset?

There are many positive posts across social media these days which outline different quotes which are generally fantastic along with some very thought provoking quotes at that.

How do these quotes make you feel? Are you pumped for a few minutes and then go back to your normal daily routine? Does it change your mind set at all?

So what does open/positive thinking actually look like?

So close your eyes for a minute and imagine (hope you didn’t really close then as you’ll struggle to read the rest of my blog :-) ok now that you’ve re-opened your eyes and continued reading have you ever had an instance where you’re driving to work in the morning and another driver cuts you off. What’s been your reaction? Is it one of anger, frustration or do you simply let out a few words of profanity.

Now look at it this way, what do you think that the other driver woke up and waited to cut you off specifically at that exact time, well of course not so if your first thought of reaction was to get frustrated then you have just allowed your mindset to dip into the dark place of negativity and you haven’t even parked your car yet. Now imagine your initial reaction is to think that the other driver is just a selfish road hog and doesn’t understand the road rules. This thought allows you to say calm and focussed on the day ahead. First mind win of the day, fist bump.

Let’s get to more challenging matters like how do you keep a positive/open mindset all the time, well the answer is simple you never will. We are human and I’m sure even Tony Robbins has a bad moment now and then but it’s about keeping your mindset in your control and taking on every task with an open mind. Never look at problems as an issue but as an opportunity to create a solution.

Another small way to help change your mindset is to ask yourself “what’s the worst thing that could happen?” whilst putting your ego or any embarrassing factors aside.

Have you ever heard of Juan Mann, no not the Manchester Utd midfielder that’s Juan Mata. Juan Mann started the free hugs movement in Sydney back in 2004 and became an international event a couple of years later. He began giving out hugs in the Pitt Street Mall in central Sydney. In the months prior to this, Mann had been feeling depressed and lonely as a result of numerous personal difficulties. However, a random hug from a stranger made an enormous difference, with Mann stating that "I went out to a party one night and a completely random person came up to me and gave me a hug. I felt like a king! It was greatest thing that ever happened."

Mann carried the now iconic "FREE HUGS" sign from the outset. However, on his first attempt in his hometown, where he returned to find that he was the only person he knew, as his friends and family had moved away, he had to wait fifteen minutes before an elderly lady came up to him and gave him a hug.

Put yourself in Mann’s shoes could you imagine his mindset when he was travelling to Pitt St mall with his free hug sign? He certainly kept an open, happy and positive mind whilst at the same time leaving his ego at home and not worrying about what other people think.

Changing your mindset takes time so don’t be a perfectionist and expect change in a few days give yourself time to adjust and take a couple of five minute breaks throughout your day to evaluate where your mind is at, I call these “Mind Breaks”.

Go out there and imagine what’s possible by simply changing your mindset, staying in control of how your own thoughts and stop worrying about what other people are thinking (I’m sure they are not spending their day thinking about you).

Cheers

Dino Pacella