#98 Mindset Matters

Good evening,

This morning, I stood on a balcony, gazing at a stunning panorama of mountains set against a clear blue sky. In the distance, Iberia planes ascended from Barajas Airport, leaving streaks across the horizon. Dressed only in gym shorts and a vest, I felt the sun’s warmth on my skin—a perfect morning for January.

This week, I’ve had some amused reactions to the title of the book I’m currently reading: How to Winter: Harnessing Your Mindset to Thrive in Cold, Dark, or Difficult Times by Kari Leibowitz. The author delves into the transformative power of a “wintertime mindset,” showing how reframing our perception of the colder months can lead to greater joy and comfort. Drawing from her research in Tromsø, Norway—a place where the sun doesn’t rise for two months—she offers practical strategies for embracing even the harshest seasons.

I’m finding the book fascinating. While it’s already reshaping my perspective on winter, its lessons extend far beyond that, offering insights applicable to all areas of life.

Mindset matters

At the start of a new year, we often focus on resolutions and goals for personal growth. But the one area I believe we must continually prioritise, year after year, is our mindset.

Mindset is the collection of attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions we hold about ourselves and the world. It shapes how we interpret and respond to life’s experiences. A healthy mindset fosters resilience, adaptability, and—most importantly—the ability to find meaning and joy, even in challenging circumstances.

A significant influence on our mindset is the narrative we tell ourselves. We talk to ourselves more than we’ll ever talk to anyone else, yet those words are often unkind, untrue, or unhelpful. Many things we say to ourselves, we’d never dream of saying to someone we care about.

Changing or improving your mindset isn’t easy, and I won’t oversimplify it by claiming it can be done in a single post. However, a starting point is to ask yourself this question:

Do the stories I tell myself help or hinder me in living life to the fullest?

— AJ

On my bedside table:

💬 Quote: “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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