What role does your mindset play in changing your life, and can you learn how to adapt your mindset? Change Your Life! Episode 3 is out now and it’s all about the role of your mindset in making life changes successfully. Welcome to the Change Your Life! podcast, your guide to creating a better life for yourself!
Episode Transcript
What role does your mindset play in changing your life? What’s the link between the way you think about yourself, and the world around you, and how successful you’ll be in creating meaningful change in your life? And can you learn how to adapt your mindset?
Well, that’s what I’m talking about this week here in the Change Your Life! podcast! So, get settled and let’s talk about how to change your life with simple tips grounded in quality research.
Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, and welcome to Episode 3 of Change Your Life!, where I’ll be sharing lots of practical and straightforward advice to help you create a better life for yourself.
I’m a writer, coach, and mental health counsellor, so I talk to clients about this stuff for a living, and you might also be familiar with my other podcast, Let’s Talk About Mental Health, where I teach people how to improve their wellbeing each week… but I’m also someone who’s been doing a lot of work to make changes in my own life and so I want to share my journey with you, and all the stuff I’ve been learning along the way, and hopefully we can all really change each of our lives for the better.
Last week I talked about why change matters and some of the challenges we often face when we’re trying to make changes in our lives, and one of the biggest and most common challenges is that our mindset can create difficulties and obstacles for us… so today we’re going to dig a bit deeper into the way we think about things and I’ll be sharing lots of practical ways to harness the power of positive thinking so you can cultivate a more positive mindset in order to help you be more successful in making changes in your life.
So, let’s start by talking about…
What’s the definition of mindset?
So, the easiest way to describe mindset is that it’s the way you think about the world and yourself; it’s your attitudes, beliefs, and values all wrapped up together. Think of your mindset as the lens through which you view the world and interpret your experiences; so this lens can either magnify possibilities or it can limit your horizons, significantly influencing how you go about navigating the inevitable changes and challenges we all face in life.
Mindset is a topic that lies at the very heart of personal transformation, because how open you are to change, and how you handle challenges, will play a huge role in whether or not you succeed.
Your mindset is the key to successful change, and if you can learn to harness it constructively then you’ll be well on your way to making lasting changes in your life. The entire focus of this podcast isn’t just about making random changes in your life for the sake of it, but about being more intentional so that you can create a better life for yourself… and so that means being thoughtful and considered in the changes you make, regardless of whatever ‘a better life’ looks and feels like for you! So, today I’m going to explain how your mindset fits into all that and give you a few things to think about in terms of how you approach the world as well as the way you think about yourself.
OK, so a big part of this is the concept of fixed mindset vs. growth mindset. At its core, ‘mindset’ can be broadly categorised into two types: fixed and growth. If you have a fixed mindset, you might believe that your abilities and intelligence are static and unchangeable and so that can make you really wary and hesitant when it comes to taking on new challenges, leading you to avoid (and even fear) potential failure and criticism because they seem like they reflect poorly on your worth. It’s like a wall in front of you; it feels immovable and insurmountable, and you might even find yourself avoiding situations where this wall could potentially appear.
On the other hand, a growth mindset is a bit like having a versatile toolbox; it provides you with the tools to fix, build, and improve, making every challenge easier to handle and more of an opportunity to improve your skills and capabilities. With a growth mindset, you see abilities as something that can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. This type of mindset builds your resilience, encouraging you to embrace challenges and learn from feedback, all of which helps to turn obstacles into opportunities.
So let’s consider that from the perspective of how you deal with challenges… because when you’re making any kind of change it’s fairly likely that you’ll wind up dealing with a challenge or two (or more!), because that’s just how life goes; you can pretty-much guarantee that something won’t go the way you expected, or that a curveball will be thrown your way, the more you deal with stuff that’s outside of your direct control (which is basically everything in the entire world other than what you do and say).
Now, the way you choose to look at challenges speaks volumes to whether you’re in a fixed or growth mindset; the fixed mindset will see a problem as a roadblock, or maybe even an excellent reason to turn around and give up entirely, whereas a growth mindset will see the obstacle as a challenge, wondering how they can get around it and also what the challenge has to teach them (which then helps them to grow, as it means they’re better able to face similar challenges in the future). People with a growth mindset relish the chance to stretch their thinking and use their problem-solving skills. When faced with setbacks, they don’t give up; instead, they re-evaluate their approach, ask for help, and keep trying until they find a solution.
And here’s the thing: that type of mindset is available to absolutely anybody, regardless of what your default mode is; sure, if you’re not used to it then yes it’s going to be a challenge… but getting started is as easy as making the choice to approach things from a place of positivity rather than negativity. If you don’t know where to go to from there then that’s OK, because all you need to do is ask for help or find tools and resources that can help you (or both); platforms like Google and YouTube, and even AI tools like ChatGPT, have made it easier than ever before to find out how to do something if we’re not sure (which is particularly helpful when it comes to things that you might otherwise have no other way of learning; my Dad wasn’t around to teach me how to change a car tyre, but YouTube can… I mean, I’m still going to call roadside assistance to do it but, you know, at least the option’s there if I really need it!).
Alright, so now let’s talk about…
Why your mindset matters
And it matters because what you focus on is what you focus on; if you feel stuck, then changing your mindset can change your entire life!
Here’s the thing: you will always face problems in life, because that’s just part of life; life is basically one big obstacle course full of challenges that we need to navigate while we also keep our focus on growing and moving forward (by consciously putting in the effort to be the best version of ourselves possible every single day, and learning from our mistakes). And so your mindset plays a huge role in that because it’s about how you choose to navigate all of those problems in the obstacle course; whether you focus on the problems, or you focus on finding potential solutions, what you focus on will then be what you focus on (and generally you’ll find that being problem-focused will lead you to see more problems, whereas turning your attention towards solution-based thinking will help you see more and more potential solutions… because that’s just how our minds work!).
Ultimately it’s about recognising that your mindset is your choice, and at any given time you can choose to consciously change how you view things… which means that adopting a positive mindset is a choice you can make, right now!
How open you are to change is another crucial aspect influenced by your mindset. If you’re resistant to change, it might be because you have a fixed mindset whispering to you that change is risky and that you’re not able to handle it… and so that can quickly lead to a desire to keep things the same and stick with the status quo, even when it’s not serving you well. It’s like clinging to an uncomfortable old chair because you’re afraid a new one might not fit you or be comfortable.
On the other hand, choosing to adopt a growth mindset encourages openness and flexibility. It frames change as a natural part of life and an essential component of both your personal and professional development. When you have this type of mindset, you’re going to be much more likely to welcome new experiences and adapt to new situations, and also to not see change as a threat but as a pathway to new opportunities and growth (which it is; if it weren’t for change we’d all still be living in caves and considering ourselves fortunate to reach the ripe old age of 35!).
So, how can you build a growth mindset? Well, it isn’t about making some sort of sudden and total overhaul of your entire life and way of being; it’s a gradual process of being aware of your default responses and consciously shifting your perspective; you can spend a few minutes a day reflecting on your mindset and thinking through any challenges you faced so you can learn from them (and I have a simple-but-effective daily reflection tool, along with a video coaching session, available to buy from my store; it’s linked in the episode description).
Start by recognising any fixed mindset triggers; those moments when you might shy away from a challenge or feel disheartened by setbacks. Once you’re aware of these triggers, practice reframing them: what can you learn from this situation? How can you approach it differently next time? Celebrate your efforts and progress, no matter how small, and remember that every step forward, however modest, is a step towards growth. Choosing to consciously incorporate a growth mindset into your life can profoundly impact how you handle change, turning what once seemed like enormous and insurmountable barriers into golden opportunities. It encourages you to embrace your journey of self-improvement, viewing each challenge as a chance to become a more resilient and capable version of yourself.
And so then the conversation here is very much about consciously managing your mindset so that you’re putting yourself in the best possible position to make whatever changes you want to make in your life, and for them to actually succeed (or, at the very least, for you not to get in your own way by means of negative thinking and getting stuck in problem-mode!).
How do you do that? Well that is a great question that I’m about to answer, however first let’s take a short break to hear from the brands that help me create this show each week.
AD BREAK [does not play on Premium]
And welcome back! Now let’s talk about…
How to adapt your mindset
OK, first, choose your mindset — so, if you want to make changes in your life that actually work (and that last longer than the blink of an eye!) then understanding that you’re the one in control of your mindset is absolutely essential. Nobody else can control the way you think and feel, and so that means it’s up to you to decide how you want to approach the world around you and your relationship with yourself; are you going to choose a positive mindset, or a negative one? I mean, the choice is yours but what you choose is what you get; negativity tends to attract more negativity, whereas positivity attracts more positivity. Choosing your mindset involves consciously deciding how you want to think and respond every single day, setting intentions that guide your thoughts and actions towards your goals (this is actually something I guide you through in my daily reflection tool and the Masterclass video that goes with it). This type of conscious intention setting helps because it puts you in control of your mental approach, allowing you to shape your outlook proactively rather than reactively. Start your day by reflecting on the mindset that’s going to best support your objectives — like growth, positivity, resilience, etc. — and set a clear intention, like, “Today, I will embrace challenges as opportunities to learn.” Check in with yourself regularly throughout the day to make sure your mindset aligns with your intentions, and reset your focus if you’re getting off track. Ask yourself if your current thoughts and responses match your chosen mindset, and adjust as needed (you may even find it helpful to have a reminder to do this pop up on your phone or computer). This is about ensuring that your mindset remains a deliberate choice, which empowers you to navigate challenges with a positive and proactive attitude. OK, next…
Cultivate a growth mindset — and continuing on with the theme of ‘your mindset is yours to create’ (and there’ll be a lot of that theme popping up today!), a growth mindset is something you can choose; it’s about believing that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work, which makes you more resilient and it creates a love for learning, both of which play a huge role in lasting, meaningful change. Cultivating a growth mindset helps you embrace challenges and see failures as opportunities to learn and grow, which helps you to be kinder to yourself about mistakes. You can develop a growth mindset by reflecting on your past successes, setting incremental goals for yourself and building over time, and celebrating your progress (no matter how small, because all progress is still progress!). Focus on effort rather than innate ability, and remind yourself that improvement is always possible… with persistence, and a focus on learning. OK, next…
Practice positive self-talk — the way you talk to yourself matters; you can either be kind to yourself, or you can be your own worst enemy… and I hate to break this to you, but bullying yourself doesn’t work — it just makes you feel shittier about yourself, and that’s a recipe for low self-esteem (which generally gets in the way of making positive changes in your life!). Instead of treating yourself like crap, learn to replace negative thoughts with encouraging and constructive dialogue which boosts your confidence and helps you stay focused on your goals, especially during challenging times. Positive self-talk works because it reinforces your belief in your ability to succeed, countering any self-doubt or anxiety you may have. Start by identifying negative thoughts and then consciously rephrasing them in a positive light; for example, replace “I can’t do this” with “I’m learning and improving as I go.” Regularly remind yourself of your strengths and the progress you’ve already made, and practice using positive language daily to maintain a more supportive internal dialogue. Next…
Focus on solutions rather than problems — and this is about directing your energy towards finding practical ways to address challenges instead of getting bogged down by the problems themselves; the problem is the problem, and no amount of fixating on it will change the reality of what it is, so you need to consciously turn your attention to looking for potential solutions instead. Choosing this approach keeps you proactive and engaged, enabling you to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth (which they are!). Being solution-focused helps to foster a more positive and constructive mindset, making it easier to stay motivated and take action, and you can do this by actively reframing problems as questions, like “How can I potentially solve this?” or “What’s the first step I can take?” When you’re faced with any kind of obstacle or difficulty, choose to brainstorm potential solutions, evaluate their feasibility, and then implement them step by step, adjusting your course as needed. And so that leads to my next tip…
Be flexible — the one thing that you can guarantee on in life, aside from the fact that reality TV shows will turn the tiniest little thing into the biggest drama possible to keep you watching, is that you can always expect the unexpected; go ahead and make all the plans you like, but since there’s so much that’s beyond your control that means that there’s always the possibility of the shit hitting the fan when you least expect it. And so, if you want to be able to keep on making progress (while simultaneously not going completely crazy) then you need to learn to be flexible, which is about having the ability to adapt and recover from difficulties by adjusting your plans as necessary. If and when challenges and setbacks come your way, look for alternative solutions (which is where that problem-solving mindset I just talked about will come in handy!) and consider what your options are. I’ve been encouraging you to see problems as opportunities throughout today’s episode, and the thing about being flexible and adaptable is that it can actually lead you down a path that you might never have taken but which can help you grow even more; I started my other podcast, Let’s Talk About Mental Health, as a result of needing to be flexible (as well as wanting a creative outlet) and it’s led me to do things that I probably would never have done otherwise (including creating this podcast that you’re listening to now!). OK, next…
Learn how to say no — and I know that a lot of people struggle with saying no to things, or to requests from other people, but it’s just not physically (or emotionally) possible to say yes to everything that comes our way without wearing yourself out and, most likely, letting your own needs and wants fall by the wayside… which is going to make it really difficult for you to make lasting changes in your life. Saying no is not selfish, if it’s done in a kind and thoughtful way, and it’s about recognising that nobody is going to look after your needs for you so you need to make yourself a priority. And I don’t mean third or fourth priority; you need to be your top priority. Why? Well, this is a real cliché to say but it’s like on the plane when they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before you try to help others; if you don’t look after yourself, then you’ll be of no use to anybody because you’ll end up passing out while all the other passengers just climb over you to look after themselves! You matter, and your needs matter, so make them matter and give yourself permission to say no to things that aren’t in line with your main priorities in life. This is about setting clear boundaries about what you will and will not accept, and sticking to them, and prioritising your goals, which helps you manage your time and energy more effectively and maintain your focus while avoiding overcommitting yourself; in other words, it’s about protecting your time and concentrating on what matters most. Give yourself permission to respectfully decline requests that don’t align with your priorities, and remember that other peoples’ emotional reactions are their responsibility and not yours. OK, next…
Cultivate realistic optimism — now, realistic optimism is about being positive that things will work out while also accepting that shit happens (and that sometimes things don’t necessarily work out as we might have hoped, but they’ll be OK in the end). Being ‘realistically optimistic’ helps you stay motivated and resilient, because it balances hopefulness with preparedness and it encourages you to aim high while also remaining grounded in reality, making it easier to navigate setbacks if and when they happen. You can develop realistic optimism by setting ambitious yet attainable goals, assessing potential risks, and creating contingency plans. Regularly remind yourself of your past successes and the progress you’ve made, and approach new challenges with a healthy blend of enthusiasm and caution. Alright, so my next tip is…
Use setbacks as learning opportunities — OK, so that thing you were working towards (or hoping for) didn’t work out. Instead of letting it get you down, and feeling bad about it, the first words I want to encourage you to think are, “What can I learn from this?” Viewing setbacks as learning opportunities involves reframing failures and challenges as valuable experiences that provide insights for future improvement, and this mindset is another one of those conscious choices that you can make which will help you to build a growth mindset and focus on continuous development. You can adopt this approach by analysing what went wrong, identifying the lessons you learned from it, and then applying the insights you’ve gained in order to refine your strategies and your plans. You might find it helpful to keep a journal to document your experiences and reflections, and you can then use your notes to guide your future actions and decisions. Next…
Reflect regularly — which is about taking time to objectively look at your progress (without judgement), identify areas for improvement, and make informed adjustments to your plans… all of which helps you stay aligned with your goals and maintain a clear sense of direction. You’ll find this beneficial because it can provide insight into what’s working and what isn’t, helping you to then make changes to your approach. Set aside some time each week or month to review your goals and actions. Consider what you’ve learned, celebrate your successes, and identify any obstacles you’ve encountered, and use these insights to refine your approach and stay on course. OK, next…
Practice gratitude — which involves consciously recognising and appreciating the positive aspects of your life, which supports a positive mindset. Practicing gratitude helps you stay motivated by focusing on what you’ve accomplished and the support you receive from others, rather than solely on what’s missing. It helps to shift your mindset towards positivity and abundance, reinforcing your motivation and resilience. You can incorporate gratitude by keeping a daily journal of things you’re thankful for, expressing your appreciation to others, or reflecting on positive experiences at the end of each day. Next…
Practice mindfulness — which is one of those activities that has a bit of a reputation for being overly complicated and often used by influencers to sell some random product or another, but it’s really simple and straightforward; mindfulness involves paying full attention to the present moment without judgement, which improves your awareness and decision-making. Practicing mindfulness helps you stay centred and it reduces stress, making it easier to handle challenges and maintain focus on your goals, plus it helps you respond to situations thoughtfully rather than reactively. You can incorporate mindfulness by setting aside time each day for a bit of simple meditation, some breathing exercises, or simply being present in your activities; my go-to is to take a cup of tea and sit out on my back step for a few minutes while I watch the clouds drift by, which helps to anchor me in the present moment so that I’m not caught up in worry about the future or rumination over the past. You can use mindfulness as a simple way to observe your thoughts and emotions, allowing you to respond to them thoughtfully and with clarity and calmness (rather than just reacting to them, which usually leaves a gigantic mess to clean up later!). OK, next…
Celebrate your wins — I mentioned earlier that “all progress is progress” and the piece here is to recognise that you don’t have to wait until you’ve hit a major milestone in order to celebrate the progress you’ve made… and in fact the more you recognise the small steps you’re successfully taking towards achieving bigger goals, the more motivating it can be; according to an article in the Harvard Business Review, and I quote, “the more frequently people experience [a] sense of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run…” (and I’ve linked that article in the transcript, which you can find at itsjeremygodwin.com). You can practice tracking your wins by keeping a daily or weekly log of your achievements, no matter how small, and reflecting on your wins regularly, using them as reminders of your progress and as fuel for your continued efforts. And feel free to reward yourself as you see fit; if I had a dollar for every ‘little present’ I’d purchased in recognition of some achievement or other then I’d have a lot of dollars (which would probably help to replace all the money I’ve spent on rewarding myself!).
Summary & Conclusion
So, the entire thing about your mindset is that it’s an incredibly powerful tool for creating meaningful and lasting change in your life. By consciously choosing how you think, and how you respond to life’s challenges, you can empower yourself to navigate obstacles with resilience, optimism, and determination. Remember, you have the ability to set your mindset each and every day, guiding your thoughts and actions towards what you want in ways that align with your goals and your values. So, embrace this control with confidence, knowing that every intentional choice you make is reinforcing your capacity for growth and success. As you move forward, let your chosen mindset be the compass that directs you towards your aspirations, transforming challenges into opportunities and turning your dreams into reality.
So, by way of closing out, each week I like to share a quote that’s relevant to the subject; this is a great one about the power of your mindset, it’s by an unknown author, and it is: “Your life is as good as your mindset.”
Alright… that’s it for this episode; next week I’ll be talking about how to work out what needs to change in your life, and so we’ll start digging into how to get a much clearer sense of what’s working and what’s not working in your life, so that you know where you need to really focus your attention.
I hope you’ll join me for that episode; hit ‘follow’ on your preferred podcast platform so you never miss an episode (and turn on that notification bell; I release new episodes on Wednesdays); as I said last time, I’m committing to 12 episodes for this first season, and then we’ll see what happens from there.
If this episode was helpful, please give it a like so other people can find it and leave me a note to tell me what you thought; if you’re on Spotify scroll down and leave a comment in the Q&A section below, or you can find me on Instagram @itsjeremygodwin. Sign up to my mailing list for free at itsjeremygodwin.com to have episode transcripts and audio emailed to you each week, and support me on Patreon for early access to ad-free episodes of all of my podcasts; you’ll find all of those links in the episode description.
Thank you very much for joining me today! Have an absolutely fantastic day, night, whatever it is when you’re listening, and I’ll talk to you next time. Take care!
Change Your Life! is an independent program proudly produced by Reconnaissance Media. For more information, visit reconnaissancemedia.com
Jeremy Godwin 
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