Having a positive mindset is something that can’t just happen overnight, it requires nurturing, building small daily habits and self-care is the support system to help maintain that mindset when the going gets tough.

Five Ways Positive Mindset And Self Care Can Improve Your Business

When it comes to running your own business your mind can be both your best friend and your worst enemy. Your mind is the genius that comes up with all the good ideas, all the new products, great services and how to build the business, right? But, the mind is also the one thing that hinders your development, second guesses those new ideas and often holds you back from improving your business.

Take control with positive thoughts

Don’t give your thoughts too much power. The mind and the brain can be two co-existing but not co-operating variables. In one given moment you can be making a decision having thought it all through, being firm in your plan, but at the same time the subconscious mind can dig away at that decision and make you second guess it.

Your thoughts are subjective and flexible, so don’t allow them to rule every choice that you make.

Just like you think negative thoughts, you can also think positive thoughts and that is the crucial aspect that you need to bring into your business. You can train yourself to think differently by acting in ways that align with the thoughts you’d prefer to be having and catching yourself when your thoughts don’t align. It is a practice, it will take time – we have over 50,000 thoughts a day and we have a natural tendency to have negative thoughts so let’s work on making the positive ones stand out more.

Surround yourself with the right people

We all know the adage, ‘you are the sum of the five people that surround you’. In business, it pays to spend time with people who are going to support your business in the tough times and the good. Be careful who you choose to have around you. Think radiators not drains, no I’m not talking plumbing, I’m talking energy. Spend time with people who radiate energy and boost your own levels, not with people who suck it out of you and make you feel depleted.

I know that family support is a wonderful thing but your Mum isn’t going to celebrate your success with that client win in the way that you’d like her to, because she doesn’t know what that means to you. Our family love us and yes, they do celebrate with us, but don’t expect to get a deep and meaningful response or helpful business advice. They are often too close to us to give us the best insight in to our business.

What you need to do is build your personal boardroom of cheerleaders. Those who can offer you various skill sets, insight and support when you need it most. Take a look at those who are around you, is there any support that you are lacking, are you heavy on the influencers and wisdom-givers but low on the objective sounding board or energy boosters? Spend time in company of those who can stand up for you when you are unable, those who believe in you when you are unwilling and those who see you for who you are.

Don’t think “what if”

Running your own business can be an amazing thing but often it can be scary. Admitting that and being content with that thought it definitely a strong character trait to have. When things are not going perfectly or the way you envisioned, it’s hard not to feel those negative thoughts start to creep into your mind. But never think the dreaded “what if”. This can be a vicious circle or the start of the spiral into negativity. “What if” thoughts are often negative. If you’re prone to them, so why not turn them around – rather than “what if it all goes wrong?”, think “what if it all goes amazingly well?”. Yes, you have to plan for different scenarios at times, but you can’t become obsessed with asking “what if?”

Although it can be hard to maintain, you have to be optimistic that your hard work is going to pay off at some point instead of anticipating bad things happening. The more you do this, the more you will train your brain to be positive and you will raise your energy vibrations to bring true results to your business.

Be content with making mistakes

You will make mistakes from time to time, because you are human. But, how you deal with it and learn from them is solely up to you. There will be times when your mindset is not the best for dealing with issues and making mistakes, but that is how we learn and develop in life and in business.

Trust that this is a journey and that you will not always have the right answers, or know how to deal with every situation. But you will develop new skills and new perspectives as you do make mistakes and that is what makes you more experienced as a business owner. You need to have grace and humility, to be open to the opinion of others and be willing to learn from your mistakes. Don’t give up at the first sign of trouble or failure. Your positive mindset is what will keep you focused on your goals and your vision and being content with making mistakes will make you a stronger business owner.

Self care is your support system

Self care is about making sure that the best version of your SELF is out there to achieve what you want to in life and to help others live their best life too. This is so important when it comes to running your business with success.

Self care isn’t something you do once and tick off the list. It’s the constant repetition of many tiny habits, which together soothe you and make sure you’re at your optimum—emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Remember that line in the in-flight safety video? “Put your mask on before helping other”. Self care is exactly that, because as a business owner, if you’re not looking after yourself, who’s going to look after your business when you burn out? Make sure that you are servicing your needs before your own warning light comes on.

Self Care Strategies

Book some time in your diary for YOU. Book it out as an appointment otherwise it will never happen. Take yourself into an environment that gives you a change of scenery, fresh perspective and some time to breathe and think.

Have you been holding your breath in your chest and throat since starting your business? Take a moment to see where you are really breathing into? Are you holding on to stress?

Try this quick tip- hold your breath and count to ten. This will reset the mind and open up the pre-frontal cortex, your thinking side to the brain. Now breathe in deeply for the count of three, hold and then breathe out for the count of six. This will calm you, centre your thoughts and also allow you to breath more deeply, filling your brain with more, much needed oxygen.

If you think that you don’t have the time, we ALL have the time. Don’t be everything to everyone in your business because your business needs you at the helm and with the right, energised, positive mindset.

You can sign up for my Self Care Survival Kit e-newsletter here... providing you with tips and strategies to bring more self care into your life.

Originally featured in Beauty PR Club: Rachel Letham is their resident Business Success Coach Expert

Positive Mindset & Self Care Can Improve Your Business