We can learn a lot from Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist, cognitive neuroscientist, bestselling author, and public speaker who specializes in mental health. She has helped a multitude of people learn how to use their mind to detox and grow their brain to succeed in every area of their lives.
We don’t often think about the amount of control mindset has over our lives. However, Caroline Leaf’s interesting perspective coupled with her groundbreaking research might convince you to reconsider. Here are four great quotes from Dr. Leaf that could ultimately lead you to success.
“You are not a victim. You can control your reactions. You have a choice.”
While outside factors are generally outside of your control, you are in control of the way you react to them. It’s natural for people to feel sorry for themselves every now and again but be sure you’re not living in that mentality 24/7. Dr. Leaf has developed a “5-Step Mental Autopsy” to help people avoid reacting to toxic situations:
- Breathe in and out deeply to de-fog your mind.
- Recognize and name your reaction and ask yourself why you feel that way.
- Visualize a toxic tree with all of your negative emotions and attitudes. Imagine ripping the emotions off this tree and seeing the well-defined branches with all the information of the situation, giving you insight on what to do next.
- Focus on the content and words of the tree, helping you see the actual problem that was previously blocked by your toxic emotions.
- Work out a solution in order to progress forward in a way that transforms the toxic experience into a good one.
This method will take some practice, but will allow you to take a step back from the situation and think about your next action thoroughly.
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.”
A study found that an average person has 12,000-50,000 thoughts per day. Of those thoughts, 80% of them are negative. What positive changes do you think you could see in your own life if you were able to get rid of just a fraction of that negativity?
Our thoughts have the power to make or break us. Luckily, there are some things you can do to add more positivity to your day. Surrounding yourself with good people, talking nicely to yourself, and trying to find the humor in difficult situations may seem like small things, but they have the potential to turn your whole life around.
“There is something you can do that no one else can do, and the world needs you to do it.”
Most people spend a lot of time comparing themselves to others, consciously or subconsciously. The emergence of social media hasn’t helped. As we scroll through our news feeds, we often find ourselves thinking, “I wish I could do what they’re doing.”
In truth, the world needs what you have to offer. Everyone is unique and has different talents and traits for a reason. Sure, we could all be the same—but how boring would that be? Be confident in the good things you have to offer the world and make it your mission to spread them around as much as possible.
Dr. Leaf’s perspective challenges us to work on changing our thinking and adopting a more positive outlook. Focus on implementing her advice into your everyday life for a mindset reset that will help you on your journey toward long-term success.
Looking for more tips on improving your mindset to reach your goals? Check out this post!
