“You become what you think about most of the time”.
As the year comes to a close, I find it meaningful to reflect some of the books that have shaped my thoughts and inspire my growth over the past months. One of them is The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today by Lewis Howes. This book invites us to embark on a transformative journey of self discovery and growth. The book resonates deeply with its actionable advice and inspiring exercises, helping readers unlock their potential by reshaping their inner dialogue and identity.
The journey started with finding your identity. Brian Tracy has said “You become what you think about most of the time”. Actually, our inner thoughts shape our identity, and Lewis again emphasizes this idea by introducing the exercise of writing a letter from you future self. This practice has the power to bridge the gap between who we are today and who we aspire to be.
First, imagine your future self. Picture yourself a few years into the future, having made significant progress in your journey of healing and growing. Visualize the positive feelings and accomplishments you’ve achieved.
Then, write a letter to your present self. Thank yourself for doing the daily actions that helped build a stronger identity. Mention how proud you are of your younger self for doing the hard work of healing. Thank your present self for showing up every day and celebrate the obstacles you’ve overcome and the destructive behaviors you’ve conquered. Encourage yourself to stay the course and mentor yourself by highlighting the consistent behaviors needed for continued growth.
When we have people in our lives who inspire us, we have more joy and can make a more significant impact
It is quite true that you are the only person who can give yourself what you want. However, when we have people in our lives who inspire us, both personal and virtual, I genuinely believe we have more joy and can make a more significant impact.
In the book, Lewis also emphasizes the value of drawing inspiration from those around us – both personally and virtually. By identifying the qualities we admire in others, we can gain clarity on the characteristics we wish to cultivate in ourselves.
Write a list of people who inspire you. Write one or two sentences next to each name about why they inspire you. Listing actual characteristics you want to develop for yourself. Visualize who you want to become, what qualities and characteristics do you have, how do those qualities and characteristics help you in meaningful mindness. What do you think about your future self? Are you doubtful or confident? Are you fearful or fearless? Think about the people you listed. How do you imagine they feel about themselves? Do they pursue their goals even when they don’t feel confident? How do they tackle problems or obstacles? How do they motivate themselves?
Now you have identified the qualities and characteristics you want to build, take some time to meditate on them. The quiet moments of meditation can help to center our thoughts and begin healthy thought patterns. I also believe that a lot of magic can happen in the quiet.
Lewis Howes’ “The Greatness Mindset” is more than a book, it’s a guide to practicing mindfulness and unlocking your inner greatness. The exercises from writing to visualisation and meditation are practical tools that can help anyone striving for personal growth. By adopting these practices, I’ve found a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer vision of my future self. If you’re ready to take control of your mindset and live your better life, I highly recommend diving into this book. As Lewis reminds us, you are the only person who can give yourself what you want. So, what’s stopping you?
