Sometimes, it’s healthy to let go, to understand that you can’t always control the vibe around you, and accept that it’s OK to let feelings hit you and pass through you in the moment. While you can’t always control the external world, you can control how you process your feelings, and remember that you’re completely in charge of how you react to the world around you.
Whether you're just having a bad day or are going through a rough patch in life, learning ways to shift your mindset can do wonders for your overall wellness. Of course, it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation — so it’s a good thing we’ve got no less than 10 mindset-shifting tips for you to try on for size!
What Is Mindset, Really?
So, what is “mindset” in the grand scheme of things? No need to overcomplicate this one: your mindset is simply the lens through which you view and filter the world and your life experience.
Of course, that’s something that can affect your life in a whole lot of ways. Basically, your mindset is like a pair of glasses that helps you filter and process complicated input from the external world. What you “see” through your mindset glasses alters how you approach life, which means it can affect how you act both in the moment and over time. It’s also something that grows, changes, and can be honed with habitual work, helping you improve your mental health and navigate life’s ups and downs a little more smoothly along the way.
So now that you know what a mindset is, how do you go about changing it? As Dr. Jacob Towery, adjunct Department of Psychiatry clinical instructor at Stanford University, says, “The good news is mindsets are highly changeable, and if you are willing to learn the technology of changing your mindset and defeating your distorted thoughts, you can have significantly more happiness.”
So, let’s get into how to do just that.
How to Change Your Mindset
You already know the human mind is a complex and messy beast. (One made even more complicated by how our relationships, the news, work drama, or even just our mood change and affect it!) And while that means mental health isn’t a simple math equation with a set solution, you’ll find that a lot of making a positive mindset shift boils down to fixed and growth mindsets.
A fixed mindset is negatively self-reinforcing, viewing traits and habits as unchangeable (for example, “I whiffed the presentation because I’m a bad public speaker” is a self-reinforcement that you’re a bad public speaker). It’s a kind of confirmation bias. On the flip side, a growth mindset believes that traits like ability, talent, and intelligence are learnable with practice.
Some mindset shift methods are designed for the moment, while others focus on turning negative habits into positive ones over a long period of practice and self-work. When it comes to making a mindset shift, there’s no one “right” way — but these proven methods and tips most definitely provide you with plenty of options. Let’s focus on that growth.
1. Be Your Own (Devil’s) Advocate
When you catch negative self-criticism creeping into your internal monologue, don’t just accept those thoughts — step back and question them. You might think, “Ugh, I’m so awkward in social situations.” But is that always true? Call that negativity into question, and advocate for yourself, recalling examples of when that wasn’t the case at all and remind yourself of all the times you nailed it. Christine Chae, LCSW at Abundance Therapy Center, calls this practice “cognitive restructuring.”
2. Seek Knowledge, Not Approval
Often, we tank our own vibe by seeking approval and not overtly getting it. So here’s a key mindset shift: prioritize what you’ve learned from the situation at hand instead. This helps ease the burden in the moment and can help free you from the fear of judgment over time. Plus, focusing on learning is simply a wonderful constructive mindset to have and build over time.
3. Reward Your Efforts
Especially as overworked Americans, it’s easy to fall into the habit of only rewarding our successes. While there’s nothing wrong with celebrating your wins, you shouldn’t forget to celebrate your efforts even if you don’t cross the finish line. Reward and praise yourself for small victories and steps along the way — that’s how these habits get positively reinforced.
Camino pro tip: Took some big swings today? Chipped away at that monster project? Give yourself a little Camino Watermelon Lemonade ‘Bliss,’ just as a treat.
4. Hit Life with the “Yes, and…”
You may have heard “Yes, and” as a time-tested improv technique. It keeps the improvisation going by accepting new concepts and playing on them or expanding them, rather than a dead-end “no” that immediately shuts down new paths. Especially when it comes to creative endeavors, Stretch for Change author and Fearless Culture CEO Gustavo Rezzetti recommends trying a “Yes, and…” mindset to see what you can add to something and how you can expand on it in your own way when your impulse is to shut it down.
5. Try Something New
Similarly, sometimes the mindset shift you need to get out of a rut, whether it’s an ongoing downer or just an off day, simply lies in trying something new. Whether it’s a craft, a hobby, an album, or a hike, focus on a new experience. Sometimes, to get out of your head, all you need to do is get out of your comfort zone.
Camino pro tip: Try a Camino Sours Orchard Peach ‘Balance’ – the centering vibes can help put you in just the right place for a new experience.
6. Use Your Words
Professional interview trainer Mark A. Anderson reminds us of this classic, and effective, technique. When your brain hits you with the “I’m not good enough” or the “I can’t do this,” Mark recommends simply changing the wording to thoughts like, “I’m getting better every day” or “I’m learning to do this” instead.
7. Start With One Tweak
Especially if you’re working on a long-term goal, it’s so easy to hit a wall or get super discouraged. Instead of playing the blame game or scrapping the whole thing, reflect on your habits and choose just one thing you think you could tweak or change for the better. Then start with that.
8. Treat Yourself Like a Friend
We tend to put more pressure on ourselves than anybody else. For a positive vibe shift, try changing your internal monologue from a negative voice pointing out your flaws and failures to the kind of advice and support that you might give to a friend.
Like professional life coach Robin Waite says, “When you treat yourself with kindness, as you might encourage a friend to do, you’re more likely to bounce back, regain motivation, and try again the next day.”
9. Practice Gratitude
It’s easy to focus on what went wrong in the moment or things you’ve been disappointed by in the long run. But you’ve given those thoughts plenty of time and space already, haven’t you?
Explore the flip side regularly by internally recognizing and appreciating the things that have gone well, the parts of your life you are grateful for, and the moves that you’ve successfully made. Even better, try externalizing them by writing them down as little notes to yourself.
10. Try Mindfulness Meditation
The simplest form of mindfulness meditation — just sitting quietly, clearing your mind, focusing on nothing but your steady breathing, and letting thoughts drift by — is an exercise in acceptance that can legitimately improve your vibe in the moment, and build resilient mindset habits over time.
According to the American Psychological Association, over 200 studies of mindfulness-based therapy have found the practice effective for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Now, that’s a beautiful shift!
Camino pro tip: Consider the calming sensation of Camino Wild Berry ‘Chill’ gummies as your mindfulness meditation aid.
Take It Easy on Yourself
It’s essential to remind yourself that every individual is as unique and different as their particular set of circumstances — we’re all just a highly complex soup of neurons, electricity, hormones, and stardust. What works for one might not work for another, and a mindset shift doesn’t always happen immediately or easily.
That said, our brains are neuroplastic – they’re flexible, changeable, and capable of growth. So keep at it. Mindfulness is a habit, and it’s often work. You have nothing to lose by trying out different methods and finding what works for you- and for the mind that only you possess.
And remember, it never hurts to get a little help from a friend.
Dan is a freelance writer, small business owner, and full-time creative living in Dallas, TX. In 15 years of writing, he’s been fortunate to collaborate with companies and publishers like Cannabis and Tech Today, Healthfully, Salon.com, ArtBase, The Seattle Times, USA Today, SF Gate, and many more.
