Our economy is spinning out of control, the landscape of business is rapidly changing and I would not be surprised if YouTube gains more penetration than the major networks in the next few years. There was a time, not so long ago, that most business experts would agree it takes about two years for a new business to become fully rooted and successful. But these days, it only takes about 18 months for an entirely new industry to emerge – or for an old one to disappear. Within the last year, the notion of a stable career with a large well-known company and a secure retirement portfolio has dissolved into unprecedented layoffs and over 60 percent loss of retirement income.

We will either be swept away with all of these changes or we can be the ones doing the sweeping. There are always opportunities in any market to the trained observer. The biggest challenge we face lies between our two ears. If we can take command of our thoughts and emotions, we will be in a wonderful position to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie in wait.

As I’ve have mentioned several times during my monthly visits to IntelliSource, there is a part of the brain referred to as the Reticular Activating System. The RAS helps us select out certain variables in the environment that are highly attractive based upon what we have mentally practiced looking for. This gives rise to one of my favorite statements: Practice Makes permanent. You can either focus on what you are afraid will happen or focus on what you wish to happen and either way you get to be right.

So here are some simple suggestions to retrain or strengthen existing Mental Fitness Training processes:

1. Make a list of what you appreciate about who you are, your family members, your health etc. Start each day reciting to yourself what you are grateful for. Look for and acknowledge the “precious moments” that occur during each day.

2. Recognize that at any given moment you may not always be in control over what happens to you. However, you are in command of the thoughts and feelings you have about the events that occur, the actions you take and the spirit you bring. Several times during the day, challenge yourself to approach various conversations and events with clear intentions.

Training your body every day will give you greater strength, agility, and stamina. Training your mind every day will provide an internal foundation to help face these challenging times with strength, confidence, agility and joy. Practice being fully ”present” during activities you engage in and with people whom you interact. When you find yourself worrying about the future, remind yourself to refocus on what is immediately in front of you. Do these things, and when the future arrives, you will be fully present in the moment and able to take full advantage of those opportunities or deal more effectively with the challenges you face.

Navigating new territories requires new maps. Revolutionary new models of the brain have emerged to replace the old adage: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” with: “The more new tricks you teach the dog the better it is for the dog.” (The Brain that Changes itself by Doedge)

The unprecedented changes in our world must be met with new mindsets. Every day we have the opportunity to think about our selves and our surroundings in new ways. We have the ability to take command of our mindsets, and with conscious practice, to navigate these challenging times with clarity, curiosity, and joy.

To sum it all up, I’m reminded of a quote by Tom Crumm: “If the rug gets pulled out from underneath you, learn how to dance on a shifting carpet.”

Nikki Nemerouf, managing partner at Starquest Inc.
Starquest helps leaders, teams, and families transform their mindsets causing breakthroughs in performance, productivity and the ability to live joyous lives.

Economy New Mindset