24 Feb Exploring Mindset

We’ve all known people who exude negative energy. This negative energy can manifest as constant complaining, assuming the role of victim, or just making endless excuses for their negative behavior or poor attitude. Behind this negative energy is the mindset of a person who feels most secure when they are in the one-up position and others in the one-down. So, they tend to focus on what’s not working and others’ mistakes. This type of person is also quick to blame others. Unfortunately, a person with a lot of negative energy is typically an unhappy person.

In contrast, a person with an empowered mindset recognizes problems but chooses to work toward solutions. Obstacles are not viewed as the final outcome but rather as challenges that invite creative solutions. This type of positive, optimistic energy focuses on improvement, growth, and helping others. And, not surprisingly, people enjoy working with and socializing with those who have an optimistic view of life.

In Chapter 15 of the textbook, the authors define mindset as “habitual patterns of thinking, feeling and responding” (p. 342).

As an aspiring life coach, it is your task to help clients identify unexamined and negative mindsets. If these negative mindsets are not tagged and rooted out, these behaviors will inevitably work against them, hindering their productivity and stifling their relationships. Let’s face it—people don’t like being around negative energy. You can serve coaching clients well by heightening their awareness and helping them learn new options for turning negative energy into positive action.

In this discussion, you will learn more about mindset and how to increase your own awareness of areas you may be somewhat blind to. This will also help you to better assist others to increase their self-awareness in a coaching situation.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Examine the concept of mindset and how it can affect the growth process.

Background Information

If you are having difficulty coming up with a repeated behavior that may reflect a negative mindset in your own life, ask someone who knows you well to offer their opinion. We are often so close to our own habits that we don’t see our behavior and attitudes as objectively as someone else can.

Instructions

1. Read Chapter 15 in your textbook, Becoming a Professional Life Coach: Lessons from the Institute for Life Coach Training.

2. Read the article, Learned Optimism: The Cup Half Full (new tab) .

3. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. Identify one area of your life where you keep repeating a thought or behavior that you would like to change but can’t. Explain.

b. What might your mindset be that is keeping you stuck in this thinking or behavioral pattern?

c. How might you dispute this belief or behavior in order to break the pattern?

d. How might Seligman’s concept of learned optimism help you to break the stale mindset pattern?

e. How could you apply learned optimism in working with a coaching client who is stuck in a negative pattern?

4. Your initial post:

a. Should be at least 500 words.

5. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.