I want to share something with you... last night, Melissa (one of my amazing team members here at VA Institute) and I jumped on a call with some VA Startup Program graduates who had hit a roadblock in their business growth around finding clients.
We wanted to find out what was going on and help them turn this around.
So we spent an hour on a Zoom call working with them to, firstly, tease out what they were doing, what the result was, and secondly, to provide them with some simple strategies they could easily implement in order to get some results.
As our session unfolded, what became really clear to me was that a lot of the challenges they were experiencing came back to their lack of belief in their own value and their own abilities (we call this "Imposter Syndrome").
On top of that, they were comparing their performance to others who they believed were succeeding (we call this "Comparisonitis", and it's deadly), and they equated their own outcomes to failure... and that's where the cycle of self-doubt started spiralling out of control. They were both literally circling their own personal 'drain pipe', not sure what they could do, but all the time allowing their own negative self-talk to push them further down the rabbit hole.
When we finished the call, the outcome was that they each had a clear strategy and plan of attack, together with some accountabilities that we had set for them, and it was obvious to me that during this relatively short 60 min call they also had experienced a definitive change in the way they were approaching their challenges (and thus, a huge mindset shift).
Sounds simple doesn't it... but sometimes that is all it takes: taking the time to step back from the spiral of morass and self-doubt that we often get trapped in, and to then focus with a clear set of eyes (and 20/20 vision) on what is actually possible, rather than continually focusing on, and reinforcing, the negative thoughts that have been subconsciously driving us.
I want to encourage everyone here who ever finds themselves in a similar situation... take stock of what thoughts are driving you. Take a step back and examine what you are really thinking. Be truly honest with yourself, and then proactively implement strategies that will counter those patterns.
Whether you like it or not, this much I know to be true....
Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.
So, finally... I want to leave you with this:
If your future destiny begins with your thoughts... choose good ones, choose positive thoughts, feed your brain with good stuff, and surround yourself with people who will encourage you to do just that.