Mindset Matters
Written by Srinithi Srinivas
I ate a chocolate bar this morning.
A year ago, that wouldn’t have been possible. Which begs the question: what’s changed since then?
Not much. Just my mindset.
Mindset is one of those things: people don’t realize its power until they witness it for themselves.
A year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to finish that chocolate bar, because I wasn’t in a good mindset. I still remember running up to the weighing scale after every meal, constantly scared of the number I’d see. It almost became a monster in my mind - one that could seemingly only be conquered if I stopped eating.
Looking back now, it’s strange to realize that the biggest barrier I faced was my own mind.
The mind is such a powerful tool that we can use for good - but it has the potential to destroy us as well. Once I was able to change my mindset, I became a lot happier. I think that the number one thing I learned to embrace was acceptance. I always used to think “Oh, well if I’ve already blown it by eating these chips, I might as well eat some chocolate!” The consequence of this mindset is that it exacerbates the situation, rather than bringing it to a stop. Accepting that I ate the chips, and enjoyed them, freed me. It felt like I was finally in control of my own self.
I also discovered that mindset doesn’t just…. happen.
It takes conscious effort to actually put your mind in a positive environment, especially at the beginning of a journey. A question that I would ask myself was, “What do I want?” instead of allowing myself to be taken captive by the things I thought I “needed” to do, like exercise, or skip meals.
The human mind finds ways to justify everything.
Having moments of doubt is normal. While you cannot control when these moments of doubt arise, you have full control over how you adjust your mindset to respond to these moments of doubt. I had an attachment to my unhealthy mindset, and I thought that thinking differently would change who I was, and do more harm than good.
Today, I keep three key steps in my mind’s toolbox, preparing me to respond to these moments of doubt:
Find your limiting beliefs.
What’s stopping you from being happy?
Why do I prioritize this instead of this?
2. Cross examine yourself.
Cross examine those limiting beliefs - and get to the core of why you believe and follow them so strongly.
3. Practice having a growth mindset.
How can I grow and learn today?
When, where and how will I start on my plan?
When, where and how will I act on my plan?
At the end of the day, as I finish a chocolate bar, I know that I haven’t really changed.
All I changed was my mindset - I detached myself from becoming overly attached to what had already happened, and fully accepted the consequences. I put myself back in control of my mind, which put me in control of my body, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
About Srinithi
I banter because I think that the best part of life is sharing our experiences, especially on topics we're passionate about! It helps us develop empathy, and become more open-minded and tolerant human beings. I've had a lot of difficulties surrounding body image in the past, and have struggled to feel at home and proud in my body. I've learned that the best way to grow and overcome is taking small steps! Through the course of this process, I've become an avid reader and learner, hoping to educate myself on body and mental health and its correlations to culture, eating, exercise, and self-confidence.
In my column, I want to share the small steps I take in my life as I learn more about body image, the world around us, and myself! I hope you enjoy reading! <3