I read an interesting article in the Autumn 2013 edition of eMpower magazine written by Marilee Adams called Change your Mindset, Change your Life. In essence she claimed we brought two mindsets to change that is imposed on us and one of them sets us up for success.
She described the two mindsets as The Judger Mindset and The Learner Mindset; nice and simple and easy to grasp so we can self assess what we are bringing to the change being imposed.
She explained that the Judger Mindset seems to be our default position as it is basic to our survival. So during times of intense change we need to consciously push ourselves toward the Learner Mindset. She introduces us to the importance of questions – and how the nature of the questions we use can shift our mood and our mindset.
Judger Mindset – notice this is what you are bringing when you ask questions like:
~ what’s wrong?
~ whose fault is it?
~ how can I prove I am right?
~ how will this limit me?
~ what will frustrate me about this?
Learner Mindset – notice this is what you are bringing when you ask questions like:
~ what’s right?
~ what am I responsible for?
~ what do I want?
~ how can this be useful?
~ what’s possible?
She gives us five useful questions to ask ourselves that enable the shift we are looking for:
1. What do I want – both for myself and others?
2. Am I in Learner or Judger mindset right now?
3. Am I listening with Learners ears or Judger ears?
4. What assumptions am I making?
5. Who do I choose to be in this moment?
Some great advice that I felt was worth sharing as a simple shift from Judger mindset to Learner mindset could be all you need to embrace the change being imposed on you.
This personal shift can mean you open up and find the new information, thoughts and feelings that can enable you to embrace the change.
Remember the old saying ‘for things to change first I must change‘ – so change your mindset, create a different experience and therefore a different outcome.
This kind of change requires courage – it is so much easier and safer to sit in the Judger Mindset.
