Upgrading Your Mindset

Last post we were discussing optimism versus pessimism.  Did you know there are some genetic factors that influence your optimism?  About 50% of your personality traits are determined by your genes and family origin.   So you may have been born optimistic.  Or pessimistic.

When you’re a child you tend to be more optimistic.  As people get older, they start to buy into the bullshit around them and progressively become more pessimistic.  While women are generally more optimistic than men, they are also more pessimistic.  How can that be?  Because they have a greater emotional range.  So while they are more optimistic, they are also more susceptible to depression.

What if you are born more disposed to be pessimistic? 

You can change your mindset.  Don’t use your DNA as an excuse.  All that does is diminish what you can get in life.  By controlling your mindset, the thoughts you give precedence to, you actually change your state, and your results.

So how do you do this?

• Change the environment around you.
• Change people that you hang out with.
• Quit drinking.
• Quit smoking.
• Quit drugging.
• Dress up.
• Wash your car, clean your house and get organized.
• Be extra nice to the next ten strangers you meet.
• Unplug your TV for a month. (Repeat as necessary.)
• Go on a one-week social media fast.
• Start every day by reading one page of As a Man Thinketh.
• End every day by reading one page of As a Man Thinketh.
• Go volunteer for a day at a homeless shelter, or pediatric hospital.

That’s a few ideas off the top of my head.  What can you come up with?  Please share your thoughts below.

- RG