Your mindset is a set of deeply rooted beliefs.
It shapes how you make sense of the world.
It determines how you think, feel, and behave.
Which means it inevitably influences whether you succeed or fail.
Some of the earliest research on mindset was done by Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck. She found that a person’s mindset determined their performance. There are different types and we are going to discuss a few of them.
Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset
People with an abundance mindset tend to believe they can have limitless health, wealth, happiness, and all things good.
Whereas those with a scarcity mindset tend to believe these things are limited.
YES, there is a middle ground.
Not many health practitioners talk about mindset, but it powerfully influences health, healing, and results.
Because beliefs → influence thoughts → influence behaviors → influence results.
There are lots of ways we can work on shifting our mindset, but the first step is always awareness - to notice our thoughts throughout the day.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Mindset
Short-term thinkers focus on the here and now.
Long-term thinkers visualize what’s next and are guided by a vision of the future.
When it comes to health, thinking in the long-term (visualizing the “why” behind our goals) makes it easier to stay committed to positive changes.
So here’s my question for you:
- Whatever goal you are working toward, WHY are you committed to that goal?
- Then whenever you’re tempted to give up, remind yourself of that long-term vision.
Internal Mindset
Which do you believe to be more true:
- “I’ll get better when I find the right diet, pill, or miracle treatment.”
- Or…
- “I’ll get better when I make positive changes in my beliefs, habits, and lifestyle.”
There is no right or wrong answer—these are just different mindsets.
Also, most of us fall somewhere on a continuum rather than fully on one end or the other.
In psychology, these mindsets are called “external” vs. “internal locus of control.” It’s all about where we believe the responsibility falls.
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
People with a growth mindset believe they can change. They embrace challenges. They see failure as an opportunity to learn.
People with a fixed mindset believe they are innately good at something or not. Smart or not. They may be hesitant to try new things for fear of failure.
Truth is—like with all mindsets—that we all fall somewhere along the continuum.
But when it comes to health, I see many benefits of embracing a growth mindset.
When we believe our bodies and brains can change, we are more motivated to better ourselves, whether that’s through what we eat, how we move, or choices we make.
Mindset Work
These mindsets were first researched and described by Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck. She found that mindset translates to performance.
Mindset work is subtle and may seem less powerful than something like changing your diet. But our mindset can influence the outcome of everything else we do.