Direct Your Mind

Why do I keep learning how my mind works? Why do I keep practicing mindfulness exercises? What is all this effort actually doing?

The more I learn about the mind, the more I see it as a tool. And like any tool, it needs to be kept clean, organized, and sharp.

Here’s how I think of it: my mind is a processor. It takes the ideas and information I feed it and works with them throughout the day. If I wake up and tell myself, “It’s going to be a terrible day,” my mind says, “Got it,” and goes to work, finding all the terrible things to prove me right. That’s how it operates—it’s constantly validating whatever I believe.

But that doesn’t mean good things aren’t happening. Every version of events is always happening. What we feed our minds determines what we focus on. Our minds give us what we ask for.

When I focus on controlling my mindset, I’m not trying to ignore reality or pretend challenges don’t exist. If I tell myself, “I’m going to have a good day,” it doesn’t stop negative things from happening. It simply directs my mind to notice the positive things, the opportunities, and the small wins that would otherwise go unnoticed. Creating this focus helps me move through the day with more strength and resilience.

Hardships don’t disappear when I make a choice to think differently. They’re part of life. But directing my mindset helps me carry myself through the day. I get to notice the open doors, the friendly gestures, and the moments of calm in the chaos. Each of those moments contributes to building a life that feels more grounded and manageable.

ACTION: Decide on a single positive intention, such as “I’ll focus on what I can control.” Repeat it in moments of stress or uncertainty, and use it as a compass to keep your mind directed toward opportunities rather than obstacles.