Spring Forward and unlock your next level – April Mindset Transformation for Success

April definitely marks the start of springtime here in the UK, it’s one of my favourite times of the year with daylight hours increasing, temperatures starting to warm up, plants beginning to bud and spring flowers starting to bloom through.  I always think of Spring as a restart to the year after the harshness of the winter months – a transformation.

Photo from @theshephairdess

What if everything you wanted was just one mindset shift away?

April is the month for transformation, not just for the world and nature around us but it gives us the chance to do the same. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed then read on to find some practical insights, and actionable steps you can take to help you move forward.

If I look back just twelve months to this time last year, I was in a very different place.  With a good, senior level, well paid job, traveling the world and living the “high life” you would l think that I had it all.  I delivered each day with confidence, I laughed with colleagues, I had a full social life with friends and a very happy home life. Underneath this I was feeling anxious, unhappy, lacking self-worth and battling every day to keep up the persona I had created.

But the overwhelming feeling I had each day was that I should feel fortunate to have what I did, and it was selfish of me to not appreciate this and feel happy – I was being ungrateful and had no right to complain or want something different.  I worked hard and now had the fruits of this labour.

This time last year I attended an event, I pushed out of my comfort zone and went alone, something I had never done before.  I was feeling low and flat with life – unhappy with where I was but not quite knowing where I should go next. 

One of the exercises on that night was to imagine where and who you wanted to be, how would that version of you think and act, what decisions would they make daily and then finally what one action could you take right there and then to start that journey. 

That event was my moment of clarity.  That night was the beginning of the rest of my life.  That night was the start of a transformation into the person I was meant to be. 

If I asked you the same questions today – what would your answers be?

Moving forward doesn’t mean leaving everything you have ever know behind, it means looking at what you need to take with you and allowing yourself to leave those what doesn’t behind.

I look back to day to the person I was then and realise the one thing that I never allowed myself to be was ME!  Growth is uncomfortable because it requires you to step into the unknown, it’s not a lack of capability that is stopping you from breaking free it’s that you are waiting for permission. 

Transformation isn’t a one step process – it’s setting your goals and then working out the individual steps you need to take to get there. 

You don’t need the perfect plan; you need steps that allow you to act, not to wait for perfection.  Is fear is holding you back? If so, it’s a sign that you are on the edge of something great. Moving into the best version of you is about acting before you feel ready.

Feeling out of control can create chaos in our world and prevent us from seeing what it is that we need to do.  By creating clarity in our own mind and the world that we surround ourselves with the path that we need to stake can become so much clearer. 

April is “Stress Awareness Month” and managing stress in life is a key skill of high performers.  Stress is often felt as being out of control and it is something that everyone can experience and managing stress it is how we can manage our energy better to get the results that we want to see.

Have you ever felt like you are trying to spin too many plates and see them starting to tumble, this can be a sign that you are feeling out of control…stressed! 

Take that step back prioritise what’s the best use of your time and what will get you a step closer to your goal can reduce this feeling of overwhelm.  Instead of thinking I don’t have time start to thinking, I will make time for what matters and what makes a difference to me, leaving the rest. 

Reduce the number of spinning plates and this gives you a chance to control your steps and more importantly gives you time to think, rest and recharge.  Taking time to look after you isn’t a weakness it is a power move towards success.

Your transformation can start today using the four key mindset shifts for April:

·       Give yourself permission

·       Small changes/steps lead to big change

·       Reduce stress and overwhelm – take control

·       Stop waiting

As you come to the end of this, I want you to take a few moments to ask yourself – A year from now – where do you want to be?  What one step can I take towards that goal?

I would love to know what changes you are looking to make!

To recognise Stress Awareness Month, local publications have written an article to recognise the growing concern - to read more click here!