High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset - 332: How to Change the Meaning

Episode Date: April 29, 2020

During this time period of change and adversity, we need to protect our mind. We need to stand guard to our mind and pay attention to the meaning we are assigning to our experience. We can choose to attach a negative or a positive meaning to our experiences. When we choose a positive meaning, we are focused on how this time is a gift, how we can learn and grown, adjust as humans, and invest in ourselves. This is the high performance mindset. Power Phrase this Week: “I control what this means to me. I find a higher meaning.”

Hi friends, my name is Dr. Sindhra Kampoff, a national leader in the field of sport and performance psychology. Every week I'm on the local radio sharing my top tips on exactly how to develop the mindset of the world's best, so you can accomplish all your dreams. Get ready for a jammed, packed episode focused on practical tips to help you get after your goals and step out of your comfort zone. Let's go. It is time to head down the phone lines.

I wish you were back in studio. This has always been a little bit difficult for me, but Cinder Kampoff joining us for... We're going to be back in studio soon, I think. I'm hopeful, Lisa. I'm very hopeful of that. It's always hard not to see your guest's face, especially when you're used to seeing somebody once a week. So we're talking about kind of how to change the meaning of what's going on here with us and our shelter in place. I really have done a good job, I think, in my personal life of not saying stuck at home. You're not stuck at home. You're sheltered at home.

Is that kind of what you mean by changing the meaning of it? Yes, that's one component of what I'm talking about. And really what I'm talking about is creating this more deeper meaning. And so I think today this topic is really important because this can be really a tough time for people. Maybe they lost their job or got furloughed. And what I'm noticing, Lisa, is people are experiencing a wide variety of emotions. Anything from frustration and anger, boredom, to contentment and happiness. And so today what we're talking about is you really get to decide the meaning that you're making and how you're attaching meaning to the experience right now, regardless of how difficult it is. You've got a quote from one of my favorite people, Anthony Robbins.

Yes. He said, things do not have meaning. We assign meaning to everything. And when I read that, I was like, okay, mic drop. That's good. So, Sindra, hypothetically, say somebody like me doesn't quite understand what you mean by change the meaning. Can you expand on that a little bit

for us? Sure. So what I mean is like, I can control what this means right now and I can find a higher meaning. And in fact, there's not really any problems. I heard TJ Fleck the other day on the radio say there's no problems, they're just situations. And I like that. And so what we're really talking about, it's really our perception. We can master the meaning that we're assigning to our experience right now. And I think there's so many things that we can't control in this world, but we can control the meaning that we're making. And so really, you know, to kind of simplify it, it's just asking yourself, what does this mean to me right now? And I can assign a positive or negative meaning to anything in my life.

So what would be some negative meanings and positive meanings that you've heard people use to describe what's going on? Yeah, so these are my friends. So these are my clients. Some of these are like the people that I talk to individually. And so some negative meanings, I'm hearing people say, you know, this is going to be the end of the world as we know it. Or so they're using words like end, like this is the end of my career or the end of a relationship. Yeah, the worst thing ever. Yeah, this is the worst thing ever. Or life's never going to be the same or things like that.

Whereas like positive meanings, you know, you could say, well, this is the beginning of a new time. Or this is a time for me to learn and grow. Or this is a time for me to adjust and adapt. Because that a time for me to adjust and adapt because that's what humans are meant to do. And I can reinvent myself. And this time is a gift. And this is going to help me create my new chapter in my life. Like someone I talked to yesterday was like, well, this is borrowed time with my family. And I thought, wow, isn't that so meaningful that and then he's just more invested in this

time with his family instead of just like taking it for granted. So why is it so important to choose a positive meaning in these times? I think it's really important because our focus, so what we focus on really determines how we feel. And this meaning can create how we feel. And then ultimately how we feel impacts what we do. And so when we choose more of a positive meaning, we can be hopeful and optimistic, even confident. And we can use this time to really grow and learn. Whereas if we choose like a negative meaning, this leads to fear, anxiety, frustration, you know,

you feel like you're kind of stuck at home. And so what's interesting is we can have the same experience as another person, but we can attach a different meaning. And then you can really see if every day you're doing that and you're choosing more hopeful and optimistic perspectives day after day after day, you're surviving, not just surviving right now. And I think that really helps us lead the way we want to with our family, leading ourselves and even leading our business or if we have a job. So this is a really good time for maybe people to find that new direction. Maybe those that feel like it's time to do something else. You've always had that.

Maybe I should do X, Y, Z. I mean, maybe now is the time, right? I think right now is a perfect time. I think a lot of people have more time on their hands. And so they are looking for something, maybe a new direction or a new purpose. And I think this is a great time to really double down on investing in yourself. You know, Lisa, I'm seeing like there's so many just free webinars. I have one on Wednesday I'm going to attend about purpose and just like a lot of free online offerings, even books you can read. So I think this is a great time to really think about what are you passionate about?

Try new things because the only way that you can really find your passion, if you're searching for it, is to try new things and follow things that are really exciting to you. And then, you know, say no to the other things that maybe aren't as exciting to you. So how do we summarize today on a Monday? Yeah, I'd say during this time period of change and adversity, we need to protect our mind. And one way we can really protect our mind. And one way we can really protect our mind is pay attention to the meaning that we're assigning to our experience. And we can choose to attach a negative meaning or positive meaning. But when we really choose

this more positive meaning, we're focused on how this time is a gift and how we can learn and grow and adjust as humans like humans are supposed to do and really invest in ourselves. And that's what I think the high performance mindset is all about. Well, Cinder, what's today's power phrase? I control what this means to me. I find a higher meaning. And if people want to get in touch with you and learn more about this or check out Beyond Grit, where do they go? They can head over to Dr. Cinder, so D-R-C-I-N-D-R-A.com. And my book, you can find it Beyond Grit at just beyondgrit.com.

Way to go for finishing another episode of the High Performance Mindset. I'm giving you a virtual fist pump. Holy cow, did that go by way too fast for anyone else? If you want more, remember to subscribe. And you can head over to DrCindra for show notes. And to join my exclusive community for high performers, where you get access to videos about mindset each week. So again, you can head over to Dr. Sindhra. That's D-R-I-C-I-N-D-R-A.com. See you next week.