The Importance of Mindset When You Want to Make a Change

Any time is a great time to make a change, but I think fall (or autumn) is a beautiful season to change your mindset in order to make those changes stick long term. Changing your mindset will help you change your thinking from ‘impossible’ to ‘I’m possible’.

In this article you’ll learn what mindset is, why it’s important and what you can do to shift your mindset. I’ll also introduce you to the Freedom Through Faith Framework to help you shift your mindset and make praying often, eating well & moving more just a part of who you are.

What is a Mindset

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, mindset is a mental attitude or inclination; a fixed state of mind; tendency or habit. It’s a set of beliefs that govern our thoughts and actions.

Your mindset impacts your reality or what you believe is true about an experience in a variety of ways. It determines how you perceive or interpret events or situations. Mindsets can help you simplify life as well. Your whole life flows from your mindset. Your values, thoughts, actions and habits all align with your mindset.

Why is Mindset Important?

In short, you do or don’t do things based on your mindset. Your thoughts flow from your mindset or your deep beliefs and your thoughts influence your actions, which turn into habits.

You may have a mindset that makes you think you’ll never kick that after supper ice cream habit (hem, hem, my current struggle…). That you need something sweet. You deserve a treat.

If your mindset reflects those above statements, then guess what? Even if it makes you feel bloated, heavy and ashamed because you knew it would make you feel less than great, you’ll find yourself rationalizing every action. From getting out the ice cream, putting it into a bowl, topping it with chocolate, caramel, nuts & chocolate chips after supper because you need something sweet and deserve a treat. Even though there’s this other part that tells you you’ll regret it.

On the other hand, if your mindset is that you don’t eat ice cream every night after supper because you love your body and want to treat it like the Temple of the Holy Spirit that it is, you tend to not eat ice cream every night after supper. Maybe enjoy it for a special occasion, but not every night.

It’s also important to know mindsets can change, and you have the power to make that change.

Changing your Mindset

Your brain is truly amazing. We used to think our brains didn’t have the ability to change, grow or develop past the age of 7 or so. Now we know it is constantly changing. It may take more time to solidify habits than when you were a small child, but it can change. You brain can create new pathways, new thought patterns, which in turn, affect your actions and habits.

Paul calls you to become a new creation in Christ by renewing your mind – by changing your mindset. Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2.

I’ve discovered a mindset shift that works brilliantly to help others see themselves differently, enabling healthier habits to just flow from it. I call it the Freedom Through Faith Framework.

Freedom Through Faith Framework

The Freedom Through Faith Framework is 3 biblical truths, that when adopted, allows you to make the healthy choice the easy choice. I’ll be writing more about each of them in the coming weeks, but here they are in a nutshell:

The 1st biblical truth is the 1st and Greatest Commandment: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37). When you place God #1 in your life, everything else falls into place.

And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39). Yet how much do your really love yourself? Like the precious, beloved, cherished, precious child of God you are? We can only love others well if we love & take care of ourselves well.

Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16). Sometimes it’s hard to learn how to love yourself and your body, but it’s easier to love, honor & remember treat your body as a home for God.

What Can You Do To Change Your Mindset

There are several things you can do to shift or change your mindset. The 1st is to be aware. Ask yourself – or better yet, ask God – what do you believe about the habits you currently have? Truly believe, deep in your heart.

Is there never enough time in the day to move your body? Why?

Are you always reaching for a pop/soda/coke for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up? Why?

Do you struggle to spend quality time with God? Why?

Another thing you can do is to ask God what he wants you to know about it. Not just why, but what does he want you to know about it. The habit (or lack thereof) serves you for a reason. Until you’re convinced otherwise, you’ll keep gravitating toward it.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Open yourself up to His insights and you’ll be amazed (and maybe surprised) at what he reveals to you.

Positive Affirmations

You can also ingrain your new mindset into your brain with Positive Affirmations. These are like prescriptions to yourself for the change you want to see. You can say them out loud every day, read them, write them down every day in a journal (try it with your non-dominant hand to engage both sides of your brain), put them on sticky notes in strategic places to remind you, keep them top of mind.

They can be scripture, positive quotes, song lyrics or personalized statements such as:

I love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind. (Matthew 22:37)

I love my neighbor as myself, like a chose, loved, cherished child of God. (Matthew 22:39)

My body is a Temple of God’s Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16)

I am a new creation in Christ. The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Lead me Lord (Hymn by John D. Becker)

Oh Lord, I know you are near (Hymn by Dan Schutte)

I am so thankful I enjoy going for a walk in the woods every day after work.

I enjoy spending 15 minutes reading scripture before going to bed every night.

I am so thankful eat at least 5 servings of vegetables every day.

I know God is near because I see him pop up to say “Hi!” in so many ways every day.

Keep It Simple

They don’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler the better. Like those song lyrics you can’t get out fo your head.

What you fill your brain with matters. What goes in, comes out. In order to shift your mindset and therefore your habits you need to keep filling your mind with good, Godly things. When your mindset changes, your thoughts change. When your thoughts change, your actions change. As your actions change, your habits change. All so you can enjoy the journey.

Are you ready to make a change?

What’s 1 thing you can do today to start shifting your mindset?

Are you looking for a speaker for your church group or organization? One who will empower your audience with the knowledge of how God designed them and why they need to make prayer their #1 healthy habit as well as how they can easily make it happen? I have just a couple openings yet this fall and a few next spring. Email me at julie@Julie Grunklee.com to start the conversation. I speak to small & large groups and love to travel.