Your mindset is both a result and a cause of your experiences in life. You develop certain mental patterns based on what you’ve experienced. Then, your current state of mind influences your future results. This means that even a small improvement in your mindset can have profound effects on your life. The following are some tips and strategies to help you develop a more focused and positive mindset. 
Live in the Moment
One of the most powerful ways to manage and upgrade your thoughts and emotions is to live in the present. Contemporary philosopher Eckhart Tolle has shared this message in books such as The Power of Now and in numerous videos and courses.
The fact is, all of your problems and limitations exist in the past or the future – created by your mind. The present is the only time when you have the ability to act and make changes. There are certain practices that can help you with this.
- Meditation. Traditions such as Zen teach that meditation is beneficial for helping you stay in the moment. In addition to formal meditation practices, do your best to stay aware of your thoughts and emotions throughout the day. Don’t judge them or try to change them, just pay attention to them.
- Practice forgiveness. Holding on to grievances and injustices keeps us tethered to the past. Even if we have legitimate reasons to feel wronged, it doesn’t help to keep rehashing old incidents. It’s not easy to let go of painful memories and you may not be able to do it all at once. However, if you make a conscious effort, you can reduce their effect on you.
- Declutter. Your physical surroundings have an effect on your mental state. Possessions and clutter keep can keep you preoccupied with the past. You don’t have to get rid of everything, but letting go of old objects can help you move forward.
Let Go of Negative and Limiting Thoughts and Beliefs
Your mind is a powerful tool but it can also work against you. Negative thoughts and emotions can stop you from taking actions that you know are beneficial. Identifying your current state is the first step, which is why living in the present is so important. After that, you can apply other strategies to let go of unwanted thoughts.
- Remove negative influences. Do you spend time with people who are constantly complaining, gossiping, or criticising? It’s hard to maintain a positive mindset if you’re surrounded by negativity. Similarly, watch the information you consume on TV, news, and social media. Cutting back on screen time can be a positive change all by itself, especially if you replace it with healthier activities.
- Take care of your body. A natural and balanced diet is good for your mind as well as your body. Avoid or limit foods that give you quick spikes of energy followed by crashes. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and mood-altering drugs all fall into this category. Along the same lines, regular exercise and getting enough sleep help you maintain a positive outlook.
- Create empowering routines. When you’re following a healthy routine, negative thoughts have less of a chance to intrude. Routines also help you develop discipline, another key quality for improving your mindset. Morning and evening rituals are especially important as they determine how you start and end the day. A powerful morning routine might include meditation, exercise, journaling, and a healthy breakfast. Before bed, you might read or listen to something uplifting.
- Practice clearing techniques. Hypnosis, including self-hypnosis programs, can help you to override old programming. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), a simple method of tapping based on acupuncture points, is another technique anyone can do. You can find many books and videos that teach EFT.
Find Helpful Tools and Allies
Sometimes you need assistance to help you let go of the past, develop discipline, or knowing the next step. Depending on your circumstances and preferences, you can get help from a variety of sources.
- Counselling or therapy. Talking to someone can help. Certain types of therapy, such as cognitive, are especially good for changing your thinking and developing new habits.
- Spiritual or religious advisors. If you follow a certain tradition, you can seek someone from that faith to talk to.
- Coaching. A personal or life coach can help you sustain motivation, clarify your goals, and keep you accountable.
- Books, courses, and seminars. You don’t always have to work with someone one-on-one to derive benefits. You can absorb wisdom by reading books and taking courses. If you’re motivated by someone, you may be able to find an online community built around their teachings such as a membership site, Facebook group, or forum.
- Mastermind group. The idea of the mastermind group was popularised by Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich. It involves working with like-minded people who are committed to helping each other.
Provide Help to Others
Just as seeking help is important, helping others also propels you further on your own journey. It’s a well known adage that the best way to feel better is to make others feel better. This can be anything from volunteering to mentoring young people, to supporting worthwhile organisations and GoFundMe campaigns. Sometimes simply listening and offering advice is all that’s needed. The only caveat is that people must be ready and willing to accept help if it’s going to make a difference.
Improving Your Mindset is a Lifelong Process
There are many tools and strategies to help you develop a stronger mindset. The first requirement is to set the intention and to identify the actions that will serve you best at this time. Once you accept the idea that improvements are always possible, you’ll naturally be guided to the right solutions.