Do you manage your mindset?

On the most recent episode of the Social Change Leaders Podcast, we talk about how to develop and lead with a mindset for social innovation.  We outline the 6 key characteristics to have the right mindset for this work.  (If you want to listen, go here.)

Is mindset something that you think about?  Are you aware of it?  Do you know when certain thoughts pop up that get in the way of your progress?  These can include imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear of success, fear of failure, negative self-talk, and self-limiting beliefs.  Sometimes we need to spend some time retraining our inner voice and unpacking our fears in order to move ahead.

Mindset work is something that I often (actually, always) work on with my coaching clients but it is never the reason they start coaching with me.  Common reasons my clients start coaching with me is to get out of overwhelm, get feedback and clarity on their strategy, determine goals and an action plan, understand how to prioritize and make better choices with their time and resources, and to have some built in accountability.  It is in this work that we sometimes uncover a mindset issue that may be stalling the process and together we can address it to move forward.

If you are stuck, and want some ideas of ways to take action, here are a few ideas to get you started:
1) Brain dump: Write down everything on your mind, every thought that you have, everything you need to do.  Look at what you wrote.  What is blocking you from moving forward?  Do you see any clues in what you got out?
2) Clear your head:  Brain dumping can clear your head, so can a change of scenery.  Go for a walk, go to a coffee shop or library, go someplace that inspires  you.
3) Look at your 'love notes': Do you have notes from people you have impacted with your work?  Do you have positive affirmations and expressions of gratitude from others about who you are and what you do?  If you don't already, keep these.  Keep them in a special place. all together.  Sometimes being able to go back to read them can remind you of the important work you do and person that you are.
4) Hire a coach: A coach can help you more quickly identify, address and move beyond some of your mindset issues so you can more quickly get back on your path of growth.

What are the strategies you use to manage your mindset?