Fixed states: removing the barriers to change

As Newton’s First Law suggests, an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. We know that there is a fundamental interconnection between the mind and body, and that whatever is impacting the body will in turn affect the mind and vice versa. I’ve applied this to the basic principles of growth and I’d like you to consider that, more often than not, we impose blocks upon ourselves.

When the mind and body do not work well together, we can see challenges in the overall system. Issues can pop up such as psychological disorders, physical challenges, social issues or multiple other dysfunctions.

Movement helps us expand our world. When we are in a state of motion, life feels more manageable. Challenges pass and our overall well being is in a state of flow. We know flow creates health, and being stagnant creates illness. Investing in ourselves moves us forward. The act alone of choosing to take a step toward change, or toward a fulfilling life, creates movement. It’s amazing how we impose road blocks on ourselves like “I can’t do that” or “I need blank, before I can make change”. If you continue to believe in these limited perspectives and tricks your mind plays on you, you will cease to expand. This is the same as physical, social, economical challenges. See conditions or challenges as opportunities rather than barriers or blocks. This perception shift alone opens the doorway to potential.

Carol Dweck, a Stanford psychologist, has discovered that everyone has one of two mind sets: fixed or growth. Fixed people have a tendency to believe that their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are fixed traits and that there is nothing they can do to change them. They will do whatever they have to do to avoid looking dumb. They won’t stretch their comfort zones, or take any action steps that could reveal this belief about themselves. They believed what the world told them, over-developing and challenging their own beliefs about themselves.

In contrast, those who come from the perspective of growth are more flexible and understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. What an empowering perspective! One perspective leads you to success and the other leads you to a dead end life.

The key is adopting the perspective of growth. We were created to grow, so to resist this natural way of being seems counter intuitive, wouldn’t you agree? If you find yourself challenged and you don’t know how to get out of your own way, just remember we at Journeys…A Center for Your Soul are here to support you.

May you be empowered for change, friends!