Investing in Your Most Valuable Asset
What do you ACTUALLY have control over?
Your MINDSET
Your mindset is your BELIEFS.
What you believe about yourself and the world.
What you value.
How you respond to your thoughts about what’s happening or what’ll happen in the future.
How you make decisions, from a place of fear or love.
AND there’s more good news!
You don’t have to believe every thought you have.
In fact it’s vital that you don’t hold our thoughts too tightly. I like to imagine that they’re fluffy white clouds that just float by over a blue sky. I focus on my breath and staying present to what is right in front of me.
I know, easier said than done. It takes practice. It’s being mindful of your thoughts.
Becoming aware of our thoughts helps us move out of survival mode and shift back to thriving.
We all have our favorite ways of coping with stress and uncertainty. Some people use alcohol or marijuana to cope (numb out). Overeating, particularly sugar has always been my preference. I’ve tried to solve many problems with ice-cream. Thankfully, I figured out healthier ways to cope with stress since my disordered eating days.
Right now my top 3 strategies for coping with stress are:
- going for a long walk outside
- eating real food
- getting enough sleep
If you are already doing these I have one more suggestion to offer. This one requires being open to looking within yourself for the answers.
Are you game?
THE ENNEAGRAM
Now is the perfect time to explore The Enneagram. It’ll give you a deeper understanding of how your personality can run the show in both the good times and the rough patches.
What is The Enneagram?
The Enneagram is an ancient and powerful personality framework. It describes how we think, feel and act.
The symbol is a 9-pointed star within a circle. Each of the 9 points represents different lenses or filters that affect how we see ourselves and the world.
These filters determine what we pay attention to and how we behave to get what we want.
Why do we develop a personality type?
We develop behavior patterns to protect ourselves from harm as we navigated challenging parts of our lives. These patterns are a defense mechanism and help shape our personality.
Why is it important to identify your Enneagram type?
When you discover your Enneagram type you become aware of your unconscious motivation which is what drives your behavior.
Is that all?
No! Knowing your Enneagram type is incredibly helpful when you are trying to implement positive changes and navigate stressful situations.
The better you know yourself the easier it is to extend compassion to yourself and others.
All the relationships you are in can improve because you have a deeper understanding of what motivates your loved ones and what stresses them out.
How do you determine your Enneagram type?
The best way is to attend a workshop. You can also take an Enneagram quiz and read about each of the 9 types to see which one resonates with you the most. You can read about the 9 types here.
My favourite free Enneagram quiz is The Paragraph Test.
Before you go off to explore The Enneagram I want to leave you with this important message.
You are doing a great job of navigating these uncertain and confusing times. (even if it doesn’t feel like it).
Take some time to examine your thoughts and create a mindset focused on thriving. I promise it’s an investment you won’t regret.
Wishing you all the ease, joy and freedom!
Anastasia Hendryanto
Life Design Coach and Enneagram Teacher
