18 min read

Thinking Differently – It Takes Courage but do it Anyway!

By Lola Iyya 7 October 18 min read

It’s one thing to do a great job at work, but that alone won’t speak for itself. Here, career coaches explain how to increase your visibility at work so that your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed (and you might finally get that promotion).

Would you call yourself a “traditional thinker” or alternatively would you say up until now you have lived your life as a “traditional thinker?”

If you're not sure who or what a traditional thinker is, consider whether any of the following describe you or your path thus far:-

  • Do you see your path in life as simply following the way your parents did things, such as getting a 9-5 job, a mortgage, holiday once a year or twice if you’re more fortunate and working until retirement, even if you're miserable doing that job? Have you sometimes stopped yourself and felt as though some of the sacrifices that you've made throughout your life are all for nothing and are in complete contrast to how you actually would like to live your life? When these types of thoughts dominate your thinking, it is easy to wonder if anything will ever change.
  • Does it seem as though the current way of living your life, working, thinking, doing and simply being even, is outside of your control? Would you like to feel as though everything is back within your level of control or do you feel you owe it to yourself to take back control of how you live this one beautiful life that we have all been blessed with? The more everything in our lives seems to be under control, the easier it seems for us to achieve the things that matter in life.
  • Does following the crowd describe what you do more often than not? Would you even say that following the crowd is the "safe" option? Breaking away from what seems easiest is often difficult for most, despite its necessity. Thought!

If any of these questions get a "yes" answer, you will likely want to consider making some changes in your thinking. In many cases, we have been taught from a young age that there is little we can do to change our circumstances. We need to broaden our minds if we want to achieve the things that matter the most in life.

Has it occurred to you that maybe your subconscious mind might have something to do with whether you stay in that mindset or not? When you recognise the immense power that your mind can wield over your circumstances, you will be amazed. If you feel the need to change your thinking but are unsure of where to start, read on to learn more about how you can do so.

So What's Standing in Your Way?

“Most people will have to have a proverbial epiphany moment or so-called “tsunami” life-changing situation in life before they will think differently about anything. There are always a few risk-takers willing to "step out on the ledge" and commit to thinking differently regardless of what everyone else might be doing or thinking. There are also some people who have never lived a "conformed life" and hence thinking differently comes naturally to them. Interestingly enough, people with this mindset appear to be in the minority.”

One thing that's sadly too common, is people having amazing dreams and aspirations, yet unwilling to think outside the box, regardless of the personal cost. Desires and true passions often end up in the back of peoples' minds as something to do eventually, or maybe one day, instead of now. This way of thinking is something that must change if you want to succeed, especially if seeing results sooner rather than later matters to you and why shouldn’t it!

Delaying any of the steps you take towards achieving your goals could set you back by months or years. One of the best ways to break past this way of thinking is by acting as though you only have now to work on achieving these goals. Even in a setting where one of your goals could wait, why should you put this achievement off if you don't need to?

Freeing Your Mind from Paradigms & Limited Perspectives – If You can Think it then You can Be, Have, Do it!

“Many people go through life unconsciously being skeptical or doubtful about whether they should or can have what they want. (I know I have personally been a victim of such thoughts and have had to break through such paradigms). Sometimes there is a belief that only a small part of the population can achieve wealth, success or that being born with an artistic or creative skill is necessary before you can have what you truly desire or dream of achieving. Adhering to this type of mindset for much of your life can make it difficult to achieve much of anything, as well as see the need for any change.”

The important thing to remember is that the good things in life are available to all of us, regardless of our abilities or individual life circumstances. If it seems as though you are undeserving of anything good, you need to change your thinking if you want to see changes. Start mentally affirming to yourself that you deserve good things, regardless of what anyone else may have taught you.

Changing your perspective and opening yourself up to more options are two of the ways you can change your thinking for the better. Although neither of these actions are an instant fix, they will however help you to focus more on what you need to do to change your thinking to a more positive mindset. Focusing on a more positive frame of mind will change your thinking for the better and is the most important part of changing your thinking overall.

  • Do you often think it's too late to retrain your mind or that you need to have a certain amount of talent? Many people are, sadly, uncomfortable with others achieving the same type of things that they have and will work to discourage them from making changes.(Think about that for a moment!) The truth is that, YOU need to accept that it is never too late to make changes and that talent plays no role in whether you can make such changes.
  • Maybe you might be thinking it's safer to follow the crowd and just go along with the rest of your peers. This type of path is one that is comfortable for many but can result in being significantly held back from what is really important deep down to yourself. Each person needs to follow the path of their choosing, even if it’s completely different from what their peers are doing and they are unable to understand your motives. So What!
  • Are your choices in life motivated by what your family and friends might think?
    Worrying for example that your family/friends will think you're going through a mid-life crisis or a familiar statement is – ‘what’s gotten into you lately?!?’ or ‘You’ve changed!’ Such responses are not that unusual. However, stepping outside of your comfort zone can sometimes mean you no longer care what people think, even if there is a clash with other peoples’ opinions and values. People will think what they want to think of you anyway so do it regardless!

“Putting aside concerns about what others might think is an important part of the process of changing your thinking. As family members are the first people that children socialize with, families will continue to play important roles in our behaviour into adulthood. You may have to accept that taking a path your family doesn't understand is actually not a bad thing, but a difference for all to accept and respect.”

Did it ever occur to you that we even trip ourselves up sometimes when it comes to making shorter-term decisions based on a bad or limited perspective? (I’m chuckling to myself because I know I used to do this to myself quite often!). One of the biggest ways that we do this to ourselves is by thinking that we have only a predetermined number of options. This way of thinking can also keep us in a way of thinking where we see more problems than opportunities.

So what can we do to help break free from paradigms or change our perspectives for the better? First, you need to open yourself up to possibilities beyond the ones that seem the most obvious or so called “traditional” path. Next, you will need to think about whether you are seeing more opportunities or more problems with your situation, which inadvertently impacts what you are willing to do to change things.

Taking Your Thinking Beyond the Obvious – Open Up Your Mind!

Regardless of how much ambition you have, if you restrict your available options, you are potentially limiting your outcome. The more open you are to multiple options, the more you will be able to use your creativity to find the best possible solutions. Unleashing your creativity will provide you with more ways to solve problems in your life.

When you want or need to change things in your life, it is very easy to convince yourself that there is only the ONE path forward or maybe it’s just the one that you prefer the most! Sometimes, though, you should think about whether you need to keep multiple options open. The best way to get through anything that you are looking to change is to be receptive to ALL possibilities, even the possibilities that may not seem like likely options

“Sometimes, people who need a change in their lives have a life-altering change because they were willing to take that step into the unknown. Marcus Aurelius wrote of what was standing in the way becoming the way, nearly 2,000 years ago. Sometimes the key to thinking differently lies in taking a seeming obstacle as an opportunity to use to your advantage.”

When we see potential obstacles as opportunities, they lose some of their negative power over us. Seeing an obstacle as a path where you can take a different route, rather than a wall blocking you from going forward, can help you achieve your goals more easily. Changes in perspective have lasting effects over a longer term, as well as on a short-term basis.

How Does a New Perspective Help Long-Term?

When most of us set goals, at least some of them will be for a longer term. Thinking about things such as achieving financial independence, living a life free of debt, or completing a degree program are examples of goals pursued over a long-term basis. Better perspectives are very helpful for keeping the focus necessary for meeting these goals.

For example, if the goals you are trying to achieve seem far off, being open to several routes that you can take to get to reaching the goal will help you use your creativity. You will, of course, need to find a healthy balance between creativity and over-analysing the possibilities. Otherwise, you will risk getting bogged down in potential problems that will only distract you from your goals.

As you make plans for the future, remind yourself that the problems also present opportunities. When there is an opportunity, there is always a way to overcome the challenges. You need to make sure that you have the right mental focus for reaching your goals at all times, otherwise, everything that you are trying to achieve will take longer.

How Does a Change in Perspective Help in the Shorter Term?

Remember, even if you are not in a position to jump right into your passion, you can take steps towards following your passion. Why keep dreaming about your passion and questioning your right to think about it? The choice of who you want to be and how you see yourself is yours, you simply need to affirm your right to define everything on your terms.(Even if you’re tip toeing along the way!)

Business writer John Rampton has highlighted the importance of taking small steps to bring about change. According to Rampton, smaller changes can help you shift your thinking more towards success. These goals might seem of little consequence but achieving a smaller goal will make it easier for you to focus on success through something that is easier to attain. Here are a few examples:-

  • Practicing gratitude for what you have, rather than focusing on what you don't, will make you happier. When your focus is on positive things in your life instead of negative, you will find yourself becoming more productive. Another distinct advantage that comes with practicing gratitude is sleeping better each night, which is a benefit for everyone.
  • Interacting with positive people is beneficial because emotions can be contagious, according to Dr. Sherrie Bourg Carter. Having repeated dealings with negative people can likewise impact how you think, for the worse. Having too many negative people in your life will increase your chances of dealing with continuous negative thoughts.
  • Another key to maintaining a positive mindset is staying active. People who keep themselves engaged in regular activity are less likely to overthink and over-analyse everything going on in their lives. Distractions brought on by these intrusive thoughts can get in the way of changes that you need to start thinking differently and improving your life.

Motivating Yourself for Success – Getting Out of One’s Own Way!

Reading motivational books such as "The 4-Hour Work Week" or "Think and Grow Rich" have been the catalysts for many successful people. When people realise they can have their own minds regardless of what others are doing, this can serve as a mental awakening. They owe it to themselves to act independently and see all their dreams come true by taking some crucial steps towards success.

Regardless of what people may think about the authors' philosophies, a reality to acknowledge is that 85% of people are unhappy with their jobs, according to Gallup. A person who feels stuck with their job could focus on a miracle that changes their life being the only way out or focus on the problems standing in between them and making the change they need. However, another better outcome could be people searching for the truth that they believe exists somewhere i.e by reading a motivational or self-development book and getting the awakening that they have needed from reading such books.

“Sometimes, the key to making life-changing decisions is getting out of one's own way! Ouch! Might sound a bit harsh but it’s also amusing too when you realise it for yourself! The habits that all of us possess that make us continue down that path of ‘self-defeating, self-limiting thinking’ have been acquired early in life in most cases. Unlocking the secrets of people who have succeeded using methods involving a ‘change of thought’ is one of the most important steps to take towards achieving everything that you have hoped to accomplish”

“Personally, I had to get out of my own way and I went through a very simple change of thought process but equally life-changing to achieve this -  by simply visualising myself with a teacher’s blackboard which had all sorts of self-limiting words/beliefs written on it that I had most probably inherited or acquired since childhood; In my mind I basically just grabbed hold of the duster to wipe the board completely clean. For me I had to wipe my mind clear of negativity and skepticism. (Might seem a bit dramatic for some but that was my “moment of thinking differently”). Once the negative thoughts have disappeared or thoughts that have simply being holding one back,  they can be replaced with completely new thoughts with no limitations. With more positive thinking comes more opportunities for overall success in everything that you have hoped to achieve.”

Adopting the Right Mindset & FOCUS – Drown out the Background Noise!

Understanding the importance of thinking differently is the first and biggest step to take. Once you know what is at stake if you can change your thinking, you will have a stronger motivation to start changing. After all, breaking from traditional thinking is a process, not a one-off event.

Our minds are the centre of a lot of activity no matter what we are doing, often making it difficult to stay properly focused all the time. Mentally criticizing yourself or otherwise engaging in negative self-talk can make it harder to change your thinking. The good thing is that there are several techniques you can use to eliminate the negative "chatter" or “background-noise” and focus on changing to more positive thinking.

Focus on one area where you are having the most difficulty shifting gears to think more positively. Take some time to reflect on how you are thinking about this situation and how you could change things. Is there a more positive way you could look at things?

An example might be constantly focusing on how your current salary keeps you from living the lifestyle you prefer. Think about whether you are focused so much on what is wrong that you cannot see a way to change anything. Are there steps that you can take now to make changes, such as finding expenses to drop that will help you save money?

Negative self-talk is likely to end up invading your thoughts even if you are trying to stay positive. Another example might be when you become convinced that you don't have it in yourself to do anything right. When you think like this, you might find it easy to start giving up when things become difficult. In such situations it might be best to start your self-talk with the things that you are already doing right and build on that positive thought.

Counteract some of the negative thinking with positivity. Use positive affirmations to remind yourself that you are capable of meeting your achievements. When you use affirmations, you are taking an important step towards looking at your situation in a more positive light.

Make sure you keep yourself well-rested if you need to have a better perspective. A sleep-deprived mind is one that won't function fully. Making sure that you receive the required amount of sleep nightly will help your stress levels stay manageable and your thinking more positive.

‘Practice mindfulness, which is having a greater awareness of the present, including your actions and thoughts. Much of the more destructive thinking that we take part in involves disappointment or anger over the past and anxiety over the future. Focusing on the present makes it easier for you to address any thinking that is standing in the way of your goals.’

‘Consider using meditation techniques to help maintain a sense of calm when you need to refocus your thoughts. A calmer mind, combined with the use of techniques like mindfulness and affirmations, helps put you within reach of achieving everything that matters the most.’

A World of New Opportunities – The World can become your Oyster!

Greater possibilities will come once you pluck up the courage and come to the realization that you need to break through your barriers and think differently. You need to have courage and as the saying goes, the world will be your oyster!

It doen’t necessarily mean you will automatically have all the answers in life, after all life is a journey!, However, once you begin thinking differently, you will have a greater sense of vision. Things will be different, and more importantly YOU will be Different! You will become more of the person that YOU have always wanted to be! In this context, being different is always a very good thing.

Those newly acquired different thoughts will start to become reality once you begin to believe in yourself. Things that you previously believed were just a fantasy will soon become reality. Once you have started to see these achievements, you will know and thank yourself that the efforts were worth your time. It’s a Wonderful Life!

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