Are you finding your days are all running together? Do you find yourself waking up each morning not feeling like you have a clear purpose?
We’ve been doing a series on mindset shifts. In this post we are going to address a Visionary Mindset versus a Cynical Pessimistic Mindset. We are going to get to the bottom of why we feel we’re just going through the motions without any real direction daily. Why we feel we are merely existing and not truly living. Do you find yourself frustrated with these feelings?
A Visionary Mindset vs. a Cynical Pessimistic Mindset
This mindset shift is a tricky one. We can be blindsided by busyness. We’ve gotten so comfortable with the status quo, it seems like all is fine. And yet we are low-energy and not motivated. To address this mindset shift from a Cynical Pessimistic Mindset to a Visionary Mindset, we must address and acknowledge the culprit. The underlying cause is that we don’t have a clear vision of what we really want. We are somewhat satisfied in a mindless routine, doing the same things just getting through the day and it’s become comfortable.
If you are bored with your life right now, you’ve come to the right place. My number one prerequisite to making this mindset shift is that you can’t blame anyone else for your present circumstance. This is a non-negotiable. You must take 100 percent responsibility for where you are right now. Own the decisions you’ve made up to this point.
Any time we want to make any kind of change in our lives, we must take 100 percent responsibility for our life. We are in charge of ourselves. If we are bored or aimless with our time and attention, no one is coming to save us. No one. For our lives to improve and get better, it is up to us. We must accept the responsibility that we are adults.
Now, let’s continue to talk about the real culprit. It’s about your personal vision. If “good enough” is your vision, then that’s the life you will live. Good enough. This one mindset shift to a Visionary Mindset is where the juice of life will come from.
I’ve researched the differences between a Visionary Mindset and a Cynical Pessimistic Mindset, and I’ll share my findings with you.
A Visionary Mindset is characterized by the ability to think beyond current limitations and being able to imagine a compelling future. It combines creativity, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence to inspire, not only others, but ourselves. That will drive us to long-term success. Visionaries are big-picture thinkers who anticipate future trends, embrace innovation, and take calculated risks to achieve transformative goals. They maintain resilience in the face of challenges, adapt to change, and are willing to collaborate with others by clearly articulating their vision and be willing to be in service to others.
A Cynical Pessimistic Mindset is characterized by a persistent focus on negative outcomes, skepticism, and distrust of others’ intentions or new ideas. This is where I want you to check yourself, do you find yourself having any of these?
• Negative Focus: Expecting the worst in situations and fixating on flaws or risks rather than opportunities.
• Skepticism: Doubting others’ motives or the feasibility of positive outcomes which often leads to resistance to change or innovation.
• Feelings of irritability, low self-esteem, and discomfort with optimism or vulnerability.
• Behavioral patterns that avoids risks, engage in negative self-talk, and criticize others or situations excessively.
This Cynical Pessimistic Mindset stifles creativity, hinders personal growth, and create barriers to meaningful relationships and opportunities.
Who are You Allowing to Fill Your Tank?
If you are creating a vision for your life, who you spend time with matters. I often address morning routines and how important they are. What you do with the first half hour of your morning matters. When we get up and spend time in God’s word and in prayer and we seek his vision for our lives we are speaking to our creator. He knows our hearts and our desires. He designed us to have a relationship with him. But he also gave us free will. If we get up and start scrolling immediately, or we turn on the morning news, we are basically consuming, the world’s advice. We are listening to the world. Our attention is getting pulled toward the most compelling story of the morning. Who we allow to get our attention matters, especially first thing in the morning. If you want to create a compelling future, you have got to get on top of who is getting your attention.
The main culprit for your lack of motivation is your lack of vision. This is even biblical. Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” The Bible talks about the lack of vision, and it also talks about keeping the law, seeking God’s guidance. They go hand in hand. I feel the Bible is the ultimate playbook of life. If we are seeking wisdom, why not got to the creator?
So where are you on the spectrum? Have you been slipping into pessimism, simply because you’ve lost your vision? We can all fall into this trap. I think there are two simple ways to check ourselves. Do you find it easy to get caught up in talking about someone else’s shortcomings. I think this is one of the biggest signs of boredom. You get temporarily energized while you’re involved in talking about a person that’s not even there, only to regret later that you got pulled into an ugly conversation. It’s such a waste of time, even though it may feel good in the moment. Here is another way to check ourselves to determine if we have fallen into the trap of a Cynical Pessimistic Mindset. Are we low-energy, no motivation and we find it easier to put off taking action on things that aren’t even hard, we just don’t feel like doing it—even if it is a simple task?
Shifting to a Visionary Mindset is the answer. This creates our why! And when we have strong whys, we can take the action necessary to go toward our vision. We find the motivation. We get momentum. We build new patterns. We find deeper satisfaction in our lives. We find joy and fulfillment. Our creator designed us this way.
Action Steps
- Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life
Acknowledge that your current situation is a result of your own decisions. Avoid blaming others and embrace the power to change your future by owning your actions and mindset. Set aside time with the Lord and pray for his guidance and direction. Put pen to paper. You can write down a vision for each area of your life or just an overall vision.
- Create a Clear and Compelling Vision
Lack of vision leads to stagnation. Spend time identifying what you truly want in life. Write down specific goals and visualize the future you desire. A clear vision inspires motivation and direction.
- Surround Yourself with Positive Influences
Evaluate who you spend time with. Seek out people who inspire, challenge, and uplift you. Limit exposure to negativity, whether from people or media, especially in the morning when your mindset is most impressionable. The books you read and the information you fill your life with matters. My favorite inspirational book is the Bible.
- Adopt Daily Practices to Foster the Vision
Start each morning with intentional habits like journaling, prayer, and get into God’s word. I may sound like a broken record on this point but the time you spend reading the Bible will change your life. I have a Grateful Journal and an I Want Journal that I write in daily. This helps me to create the Visionary Mindset that aligns with my Christian values and my goals.
- Focus on Growth and Resilience
Shift from fear of failure to seeing challenges as opportunities for growth. Embrace optimism by preparing for setbacks while maintaining belief in eventual progress. This mindset fuels creativity and perseverance and it matures us.
Take small, consistent steps daily toward your vision—this is where transformation begins! Taking consistent steps that align with your values and your vision is so important. Remember when you create the vision you create the why.
Remember, shifting from a Cynical Pessimistic Mindset to a Visionary Mindset starts with taking 100% responsibility for your life—no one is coming to save you. A lack of vision is the real culprit behind feeling stuck, so take the time to create a clear and compelling picture of the future you want. Be intentional about who and what gets your attention, especially in the mornings, and surround yourself with positive influences that inspire growth. See, challenges as opportunities for growth, and with God’s guidance, you can step into the life you were created for. Let’s stop just existing and start truly living!
Monette hosts a weekly podcast: Mornings with Monette. She has been a lifelong learner and and appreciates the opportunity to share what she has learned–both through her podcast and here at The Best-Life Project (based on the content of her weekly podcast). Her messages are raw, honest and straight from the heart. She lives in Albuquerque, NM with her husband Leland. They have three adult children and are enjoying living their best lives filled with travel and adventure. For more information, visit: http://morningswithmonette.com/.