Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

This month, we're talking about mindset. I know mindset can sound a little "soft" compared to some of the other topics I usually discuss. I'm often talking about systems, planning, nutrition strategies, business growth, and practical steps you can take to move your life forward.

But here's the thing: none of those strategies matter very much if your mindset is working against you.

Recently, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Longevity with Nathalie Niddam. If you're someone who enjoys diving into the science behind health and wellness, it's a fascinating show. The particular episode I was listening to explored the connection between our thoughts and our physical health, specifically how our thoughts influence our mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses inside our cells responsible for producing energy.

As someone who loves both science and personal development, I was intrigued.

What fascinated me most was how closely the science aligned with something many of us have experienced firsthand: the stories we tell ourselves shape the way we experience our lives.

Now, before you think I'm suggesting that positive thinking magically solves every problem, that's not what I'm saying. Life still happens. Challenges still arise. Unexpected obstacles still show up. But the way we think about those challenges has a tremendous impact on how we respond to them.

The basic premise discussed in the podcast was that our brains and bodies are constantly listening to the messages we send ourselves. If we repeatedly focus on what is going wrong, our attention becomes tuned to find more evidence of what's going wrong. If we focus on possibilities and solutions, our brains begin looking for those as well.

In many ways, it's a self-reinforcing cycle.

One of the mantras I use is:

"Everything works out for me, even better than I expected."

I keep it visible where I can see it regularly because I know how easy it is to fall into the habit of focusing on problems instead of possibilities.

When I repeat that phrase, I'm not pretending life is perfect. I'm not denying challenges or difficulties. Instead, I'm training myself to remain open to solutions, opportunities, and outcomes that I may not have anticipated.

Think about how differently you approach a situation when you genuinely believe things can work out versus when you assume they won't.

If you believe things are working in your favor, you tend to notice opportunities more quickly. You take action more confidently. You become more resilient when things don't go exactly according to plan because you're expecting that there is still a path forward.

That's the positive upward spiral I often talk about.

But the reverse is also true.

Many of us have negative thoughts running quietly in the background throughout the day. We say things like:

"I'm terrible at this."

"Nothing ever works out for me."

"I always mess things up."

"I'm too old."

"I'm too late."

"I'm not good enough."

Most of the time, we don't even notice we're saying these things to ourselves. Yet every time we repeat them, we're reinforcing those beliefs.

If you trip over something and immediately think, "I'm such a klutz," you've just given energy to that identity. If you make a mistake and tell yourself, "I always screw things up," you're reinforcing a story that probably isn’t true.

That's why mindset work isn't simply about adding positive thoughts. It's also about becoming aware of the negative stories that have become automatic.

The first step is noticing.

The second step is choosing something different.

This week, I want to challenge you to create your own mantra. It doesn't have to be mine. It simply needs to be something positive, broad enough to apply to multiple areas of your life, and meaningful enough that you'll actually believe it.

Then try saying it out loud five times in the morning and five times before bed.

Why out loud?

Because hearing your own voice matters. The more senses involved in the process, the more powerful the message becomes.

At the same time, start paying attention to your self-talk. Notice when negative thoughts show up. Notice when you're criticizing yourself. Notice when you're assuming the worst before anything has even happened.

You don't have to judge yourself for those thoughts. Just notice them.

Then ask yourself: "How can I flip the script?"

Because ultimately, we're not doing this just to think happier thoughts. We're doing it because mindset influences results. Better health. Better relationships. Better business outcomes. More confidence. More joy.

The story you're telling yourself matters.

So make sure it's a story that helps you move forward.

As always, what I hope for you is that you live a life you love without giving up the things that bring you joy.