The fastest way to create a new mindset

Our Internal Reality

We all want to change our internal reality on some level. The way we think, interpret, react, cope, wait, process, interact and communicate. The way we create our own experiences: good and bad. The way we handle our fears. Or, perhaps, not manage them. The way we avoid big decisions. The way we wait. And wait. And wait. I mean, procrastinate.

The way we see ourselves. Talk to us. The way we feel. Our emotions. The way we deal with stressful situations. Or, perhaps, the way we create stress in our world. The way we see the world and ourselves in it. The labels we give to things. The meaning we give to certain experiences. The way we give away our power. And take it back. The way we seek approval. And acceptance.

The way we beat ourselves up. And make us unhappy. The way we pretend. And act. and deny The way we continue with the same unproductive and destructive patterns, habits and behaviors. The way we have the same pointless conversations about the same topics with the same people. And produce the same less than desirable results. forever. The way we do the same things over and over again and then curiously wonder why nothing changes. The way we start things we never finish.

Yes, we all want to change on some level. We all want to be a better version of ourselves. To learn, grow, evolve and adapt. That’s why we explore personal development stuff.

So what is the fastest way to create internal change? To change the way we think, feel, interpret, react, cope, expect, process, interact, and communicate? Three simple words:

Experience new things.

Do different to be different

When we do things that we have never done before, there is an instant and automatic internal change. Expectations, emotions, attitudes and beliefs (about what is possible for us) change. Internal change is simply a product of a new experience. To do something we’ve never done before.

The change comes from doing. For the most part, we don’t ‘think’ ourselves different; we ‘make’ ourselves different. So to speak. We need to ‘power’ our way to inner transformation. That is why the theory of personal development is worthless until it becomes a practical reality. Until concepts and ideas become behaviors. Some people are theoretical geniuses but practical idiots. They talk a lot but do very little.

The change comes from doing. That’s why an article like this can be transformative or worthless, it’s all up to you.

The corridor

For the forty-five-year-old woman running a half marathon for the first time in her life, the transformation will be more emotional and psychological (internal) than physical (external). She finishes her event and without focusing on anything other than the physical process, she has gained more confidence, her standards and expectations have changed, she is less fearful and more excited about her future possibilities. Her new experience has created an internal change.

The ex-scary cat

Then there’s the insecure and fearful guy who comes across a burning house and saves a kid. In an instant, your default settings are changed forever. He does something he never thought possible (for him) and with courageous and selfless action, many of his self-limiting beliefs are crushed. He is empowered. The world is the same but he is different. Therefore, his world is different.

The graduate

There’s the self-proclaimed dummy who enrolls in college, does the work, develops study skills, learns academic language, passes exams, and earns his degree. She has changed forever. The ability was always there, but the confidence was not. Her self-limiting thinking and her self-sabotaging behaviors become a thing of the past, as a byproduct of doing something she had never done.

The traveler

There’s the poor boy me visiting a third world country. He instantly realizes that his horrible life in Australia is really fantastic. And that his lifestyle is actually one of privilege, not disadvantage. He identifies that his negative and self-pitying attitude has always been his problem. Without even looking for it, his experience in another part of the world teaches him to recognize, value and appreciate what he has (which is a lot). Nothing changes but everything changes.

the businesswoman

There’s the girl who runs her own business. She doesn’t think about it, she doesn’t plan for it or talk about it (never again). No, she really does. In the first twelve months of having her own business, she learns and grows more than in the last twelve years. Her experience changes her.

And me…

As I constantly read and study, the place where I always learned the most, had my biggest breakthroughs, and experienced my biggest (internal) changes was when I got out of my overthinking mind and experienced new things.

If you’re like me (an experiential learner), then maybe it’s time for you to experience something new. To do something you’ve never done. And no, it doesn’t have to be a major event, so don’t talk yourself out of doing it before you start. It can be something relatively minor like trying yoga, talking to a stranger, going for a run, learning to play an instrument, volunteering, asking someone out for coffee, or even leaving a comment on this site.

Or maybe you should think about it for a while longer?

Share an experience with us that created significant internal change for you.