“Whether you think you can, or think you cannot – you’re right.” — Henry Ford
Quick exercise to start: Take a moment and be mindful. Observe the mind as you read these words. Notice that voice in your head reading this passage? This narrator is your inner voice. We often don’t notice it, as it hides beyond perception, but it’s always there.
The first tool for developing mental resilience is mindfulness. When we practice mindfulness, it allows us to observe our inner voice. In other words, we direct our attention and focus toward the narrator of our life. Its essence—whether positive or negative, self-critical or open-minded, optimistic or pessimistic—becomes illuminated.
Tool No. 2 is using mindfulness to change our inner voice so it works for us, not against us. We are all a collection of stories, and the stories we tell ourselves determine our mindset. If you think you can or can’t, you’re right, so choose to make them work for you. Cultivate a positive inner voice.
