Unlock Your Power: How to Shift Your Mindset and Thrive
Does it ever feel like you're stuck in a never-ending cycle, overwhelmed, burnt out, and questioning whether you’ll ever feel fulfilled again? The good news is, you have more control over your life and career than you might realize. It may not always feel that way, but when you break it down, there’s a powerful truth: Your thoughts create your results.
If you want to change your life, the first step is changing your thoughts. But how do you do that, especially when about 95% of your thoughts are unconscious? The answer lies in becoming more self-aware, questioning your thoughts, and actively reshaping them. This process does take some upfront work and daily practice, but the rewards - feeling empowered, energized, fulfilled, and excited about what’s ahead - far outweigh the effort.
Your Thoughts Create Your Reality
Your thoughts influence your emotions, your emotions drive your actions, and your actions create your results. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s likely because of the thought patterns you’re running on autopilot. The key to unlocking a better future is learning how to ask yourself better questions and making the unconscious, conscious.
Many people today - backed by research and the experiences of my clients - are feeling unfulfilled, stuck, and burned out. They’re unsure how to move forward in their careers and lives, yet the answer lies in one essential realization: You have the power to drive your own development, no matter what circumstances or setbacks you face.
Below, I’ll walk you through a powerful five-step process to help you take your power back and start creating the life and career you want. You can apply this to any situation where you’re feeling stuck - whether it’s burnout, career stagnation, work-life imbalance, self-doubt, or feeling disconnected from your purpose.
The Five-Step Process to Reclaim Your Power
1. Bring Awareness to Your Thoughts
Start by becoming conscious of the stories, beliefs, and thoughts you’re having on a regular basis. Write them all down. Many of them are likely negative things you would never say to someone else, yet you’re saying them to yourself. This is how our brain is wired—but the great news is, you can change it.
2. Reflect on Your Thoughts
Ask yourself:
- Are these thoughts true?
- Is there evidence to support that they’re true 100% of the time?
- How do these thoughts make me feel?
- Are they helping me reach my goals, or holding me back?
3. Reframe Your Thinking
Go through each thought and reframe it in a way that serves you. Find a way to make these thoughts more empowering. It may take a few attempts, but once you find the right way to reframe your thoughts, practice catching negative ones before they take hold, and replace them with these new, positive reframes.
4. Focus on What You Can Control
Use Stephen Covey’s Circles of Influence to focus your time and energy on the things within your control. If a particular thought pattern or worry keeps recurring, identify 1 to 3 things that you can control and that will help you move toward your desired result.
5. Take Action
Empowered thoughts lead to empowered actions. Decide on specific, actionable steps you can take today, tomorrow, or this week to move toward your goal. The more you practice taking small, intentional actions, the more momentum you’ll build.
Now, let’s look at how this process applies to five common challenges many of my clients face:
Overwhelmed and Burnt Out
- Bring Awareness: Write down thoughts like, “I have too much to do,” or “I can’t take a break because everything will fall apart.”
- Reflect: Is this true 100% of the time? What happens when you take a short break? How does this belief affect your energy levels?
- Reframe: “Taking short breaks will help me recharge and be more productive.”
- Focus: Identify what’s within your control, like managing your schedule better or delegating tasks.
- Action Step: Block 30 minutes each day for yourself, or say "no" to a non-essential task.
Stalled Career Growth
- Bring Awareness: Write down thoughts like, “I’m stuck in this position,” or “No one notices my hard work.”
- Reflect: Is it true that you’ve exhausted all opportunities to grow? How do these thoughts impact your motivation to seek new projects?
- Reframe: “I can create my own opportunities by showing leadership.”
- Focus: What’s within your control? Could you volunteer for a new project, or schedule a career development conversation with your manager?
- Action Step: Set up a meeting with your boss to discuss your career goals, or take on a project that aligns with your strengths.
Lack of Work-Life Balance
- Bring Awareness: Write down thoughts like, “I have no time for myself,” or “If I don’t respond to this email, I’ll fall behind.”
- Reflect: Is it true that your workday is completely out of your control? How does this belief affect your personal life?
- Reframe: “Setting boundaries will help me be more effective at work and in my personal life.”
- Focus: You can control how you structure your day and set boundaries for non-work time.
- Action Step: Block time for self-care or personal activities, and communicate these boundaries to your team or clients.
Self-Doubt and Perfectionism
- Bring Awareness: Write down thoughts like, “I’m not good enough,” or “If it’s not perfect, I’ll fail.”
- Reflect: Is perfection the only acceptable outcome? Have there been times when progress mattered more than perfection?
- Reframe: “Progress is more important than perfection.”
- Focus: You can control your effort and your willingness to take action, even if it’s not flawless.
- Action Step: Take on a challenge, but remind yourself that growth is the goal, not flawless execution.
Feeling Unfulfilled and Disconnected from Purpose
- Bring Awareness: Write down thoughts like, “I don’t know what I want anymore,” or “What’s the point of my work?”
- Reflect: Is it true that your work has no meaning? How does this belief affect your motivation and satisfaction?
- Reframe: “I can find purpose by aligning my work with my strengths and values.”
- Focus: Identify areas where you can inject more purpose into your work, or explore new roles or projects.
- Action Step: Reflect on your values and strengths, and discuss with your manager ways to align your role more closely with them.
Reclaim Your Power, One Thought at a Time
In every situation, no matter how stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain you feel, you have the power to do something. Changing your thoughts is the first step to changing your life. This five-step process will help you bring awareness to your thoughts, question them, reframe them, and take intentional actions toward the career and life you want.
Remember: You have more control than you think—you just need to put in the upfront work to shift your mindset. The result? Feeling empowered, energized, and excited for what’s ahead. Let’s get to work!
