Mindset Matters

   

 

 

Mindset Matters 

Written by: Tami Nisbet, Youth Employment Counsellor

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, either way, you are right – Henry Ford 

When thinking about getting a job, whether it is building your resume, trying to secure your 1st job, or even being ready to replace your current job, what messages do you tell yourself? 

• I don’t have any experience 
• I don’t have enough skills 
• I don’t have the requirements they are looking for 
• There are more qualified people than me 
• I am not ready for this opportunity  
• Etc, etc! 

These types of beliefs are self-limiting because, by allowing them to stay (and be repeated) in your mind, you are holding yourself back for the life and employment goals you have! Self-Limiting belief is defined as “the assumptions or perceptions we have about ourselves and the way the world works.” 

Self-Limiting beliefs keep you stuck and blocked from taking actionable steps towards your desires. When a desire arises inside of you, it is for a reason! Your intuition is trying to guide you. 

So, how do we listen to our intuition, our actual desires, and our goals? Like REALLY listen ….  

I'll share a few techniques to help you speak positive affirmations, hope and confidence to yourself: 

    1. Identify and understand your self-limiting belief: 

• Where does it come from?  
• Where is the evidence to support this thought?  
• Find the source of it?  
• Is this thought even true?  
• Does it belong to someone else? 

    

2. Take the time to reduce or eliminate these limiting beliefs, as much as possible, and replace it with an alternate or opposite belief (replace the negative phrase for a positive one) 

3. Use techniques to support your efforts, like:  

a) Mantras – A mantra is a word, sound, syllable, or phrase that is repeated (over and over) to yourself. It is said to have a powerful vibration for our mind and somatic nervous system. Set up a few phrases to repeat to yourself, out loud, on a regular basis.  This is going to feel awkward and silly at first. Believe me! It is a common feeling when we start something new, and we are trying to change a pattern in our subconscious. BUT …. It really does work! It takes practice 😊 Check out this link to get started: 31 Short Yet Powerful Mantras To Live By (Use Them For Strength And Positivity) (outofstress.com)

b) Subliminal Messages – Subliminal (audio) messages are affirmations which go around your conscious mind and straight into your subconscious. They are hidden positive affirmations embedded in music …. below your hearing level. Cool right?! Your conscious mind is not aware of these positive subliminal messages in the music, so it can’t put up barriers against it. That’s why subliminal affirmations avoid any resistance, which would usually hold you back. You can locate these audio tracks by searching on You Tube, Spotify, or Apple Music. Decide the topic you want of focus on, like self-confidence, finances, productivity ect, and start using them while you sleep or when you can take some time away from noise, distractions and other people.  

 

 So, how does this information about mindset and self-limiting beliefs help with job searching and employment goals, you may be asking? 

When we can focus on telling ourselves (and our subconscious) we have the skills, the abilities, and the right to be employed, we can reduce the amount of stress and anxiety running around in our minds.  

• Writing a resume can be more of a practice in brainstorming all our experiences onto paper. 
• Speaking our personalized elevator pitch to a potential employer can be done with more confidence and ease in our body
• Conducting an interview will feel exciting and we will be prepared to speak confidently about our experiences and skills

Once we are employed and have landed the job, our mindset still matters! Practicing a mantra, using positive affirmations, and listening to subliminal messages will contribute to arriving for work on time and ready for the day; your ability to learn new skills necessary for success on the job; or to meet new coworkers with ease and curiosity.  

We deserve to treat our minds with kindness and respect. 

What is truly great about the process of changing your mindset is, you have the gift of free will and no one else is responsible for creating your reality. You alone are responsible for your thoughts, feelings, and reality. Not the situations or the circumstance. YOU and your own mind as your ally!  

With an overwhelming number of stories, images and information coming at you from social media, advertisements, movies, song lyrics and of course other people’s beliefs, you must choose what gets access to your mindset. It matters! It may sound as simple as just not listening or paying attention, but shifting our mindset takes practice and intention to add what serves us best. Just like building up our muscles or endurance for physical health, our mindset benefits from regular brain exercise.  

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it – Maya Angelou