Your Mindset Might Need a Snack and a Nap (but mostly a reframe)

“I guess this is just how life is now.”

I didn’t say it with bitterness—more like quiet resignation. Wake up, take care of everyone, scroll a little, do the chores, go to bed. I had a good life, technically. But I was going through the motions, not growing. And I didn’t even realize I’d settled into a mindset that told me nothing could really change.

That’s the sneaky thing about a fixed mindset—it doesn’t announce itself. It just slowly wraps itself around your daily routine and whispers, “This is as good as it gets.”

But one small shift in how I saw myself changed everything.

Enter: the growth mindset. AKA, the permission slip I didn’t know I needed.

A growth mindset is the belief that you can change, grow, and learn new things—yes, even if you haven’t worn real pants in three days and your current spiritual practice is mostly muttering "Lord help me" while reheating your coffee for the fifth time.

A fixed mindset says, "I've always been this way. It is what it is." A growth mindset says, "This is where I am right now, but I am allowed to learn, adapt, and grow into something new." When I switched gears, it was like life flipped the lights on. I started taking time for myself- learning what I liked now (because my tastes had changed). I got curious. I stopped seeing challenges as reasons to quit and started treating them like teachers.

When I started nourishing this way of thinking (i.e. practicing this way of thinking), I saw differences in myself. Differences that I liked. I bounce back quicker when things go sideways. I am more open to trying new things. I look for learning opportunities instead of assuming that I've failed. I am not threatened anymore by someone who has a differing opinion. My stress level is more manageable.

And while we’re on the subject of stress... can we talk about how we cope with it? Because I found some ways to change how I deal with that as well.

Look, I’m not going to shame you for that glass of wine or that tub of mint chocolate chip. But I do want to gently ask: Is that glass of wine a moment of joy, or are you trying to drown out the noise inside your head?

We all have coping mechanisms. I just want to make sure yours are helping you feel better in the long run—not just for five minutes. I want to share my favorite ways to refresh the mind and handle the stress that don’t involve inflammation, sugar crashes, or regret:

Take a walk. Sunshine and movement are magic. (Free vitamin D and an excuse to wear sweats? Yes, please.)

Shake it out. Literally. Stand up and let your arms go limp, bounce your knees, and toss your upper body around like cooked spaghetti. It sounds nuts, but it helps to shake out nervous/anxious energy.

Drink lemon water or make a protein shake. Hydrate like you love yourself. Add berries. Pretend you are at a spa day.

Journal or meditate. 10 minutes. No one has to know what you write. Just give your mind a chance to breathe.

Call a friend. Texts are fine, but voices carry comfort. Don’t underestimate the power of hearing the voice of someone who loves you.

The truth is, every single day you are building (or breaking down) your mental stability through tiny choices. Through what you eat, what you say to yourself, what you believe is possible.

The thoughts you repeat become the story you live by.

So here’s your gentle nudge, friend: You are not stuck. You are not too late. You are not too broken or too far gone.

Your mindset is not cement. It’s soil. And with the right habits, it will grow something beautiful.

Start small. Try one of the strategies today—whether it’s positive self-talk, a short journal session, or a breath between tasks. You’re worth the effort and you are doing better than you give yourself credit for.