Your mindset is not negative. It's in protection mode.

"Your mindset is not negative, it's in protection mode."

This is how we wrapped up a session this week with a client. A client, who was authentic and courageous to take an honest look at themselves and how their outdated beliefs were getting in the way of their best intentions to collaborate with other leaders across their organisation.

I write about self-talk a lot because I pay close attention to what outdated beliefs emerge whenever clients face challenging situations. Because there is so much we can do with ourselves that can have a positive outcome on the situations we face. And in this work, it is so important not to become judgmental of our own psyche.

There is a valid reason why we may have a belief "Don't trust others too much" or "Don't be too honest in a boardroom" or "I have to do it all myself". It is not a negative mindset. It is a past unpleasant, often painful experience, that our psyche wants us to avoid. Like a brake pedal on autopilot. And thank goodness for that. If the car doesn't trust the driver, brakes and autopilot can help us avoid accidents. So let's not yell at our own brakes, at our own seatbelts, because they are all inside us to protect us.

However, if your airbag pops out every time you brake hard, that's when this is a strong sign that an outdated REACTIVE mechanism is in play. Go have a look at your brakes and your airbags. Learn how to use them, not have them pop up randomly. This is self-mastery. The better and more reliable your brakes and airbags are, the faster and more confidently you can go. You want to rely on your brakes, on your gas pedal, on your windshield. And yes, a nice stereo can also make the ride more enjoyable, but we often work on that once the brakes are functioning well.

Take yourself in for a service, or at least a pit-stop, now and then. I spent 2 hours with myself and my journal yesterday because I noticed an airbag popping up randomly every time I hit a certain spot. And I was able to take it out and put it back in, in a better way. You can do it too, but you need to take yourself into a pit-stop first, to say no to racing for a moment, so that you can race better.

Work smarter, not [only] harder.

See you in the pit lane.