How Your Mindset Can Play Tricks on You: Resetting for Success

As a Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program Coordinator, you play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare professionals. Your mindset can significantly impact your effectiveness and well-being. It's essential to recognize how our beliefs can influence our perceptions and actions, often in ways that don't serve us well. I was reading a book entitled "Speak Up or Stay Stuck" by Pam Marmon and drawing inspiration from Chapter 2, "Your Mindset: The Lies We Believe," which talks about resetting limiting beliefs and fostering a positive mindset. Program Coordinators deal with many different situations and tasks. It can often leave them feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated, so I'm sharing what I learned for professional success. 

Understanding the Lies, We Believe

What we believe about ourselves manifests in our lives. We all harbor limiting beliefs—subconscious thoughts that drive our behaviors and shape our outcomes. Unless we intentionally recognize and correct these beliefs, they can hinder our progress. Here are some common limiting beliefs and the truths that counter them:

1. Belief: Leaders don't care about you.Truth: Your leaders do care. They might not always express it, but their decisions often aim to support the entire team.
2. Belief: Speaking up will jeopardize your job.Truth: If doing the right thing feels risky, it's time to reflect on your values and how you wish to invest your talents. Courageous communication can lead to positive change.
3. Belief: Your thoughts don't matter.Truth: Your contributions do make a difference. Your unique perspective adds value to the organization.
4. Belief: Limited experience means you have little to offer.Truth: Everyone is on a learning curve. Your fresh insights and questions are valuable.
5. Belief: It won't matter if you speak up.Truth: You can't predict the impact of your ideas unless you share them. Your voice can be the catalyst for change.
6. Belief: Senior leaders are unaware of the impact of their decisions.Truth: Leaders may not fully understand the frontline impact. Clear, timely communication can bridge this gap.
7. Belief: Past silence means you can't speak up now.Truth: Regret over past inaction doesn't change the past. Speaking up now can shape a better future.

Resetting Your Mindset

Recognizing and addressing these limiting beliefs can help you adopt a positive mindset. Here are practical steps to reset your mindset:

1. Self-Reflection: Take time to identify your limiting beliefs. Write them down and challenge their validity.
2. Positive Affirmations: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your value and the impact of your work.
3. Seek Feedback: Engage with peers and leaders for feedback. Understanding how others see your contributions can boost your confidence. Understanding how others see your contributions is essential for professional growth because it provides valuable insights into your strengths and areas for improvement. Positive feedback boosts your confidence and motivates you to maintain high performance, while constructive criticism helps you identify skills and behaviors to develop further. This awareness lets you align your efforts with organizational goals and expectations, enhancing your effectiveness and career advancement. Additionally, recognizing the impact of your work fosters a sense of fulfillment and encourages continuous learning and development, which are essential for long-term professional success.
4. Continuous Learning: Embrace a growth mindset. View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow involves adopting a growth mindset and reframing your thoughts positively. Focus on solutions rather than problems, breaking challenges into manageable steps. Reflect on past successes to boost your confidence and seek feedback to learn from mistakes. Surround yourself with positive influences for support and encouragement, set specific learning goals to stay motivated, and celebrate small wins to acknowledge your progress. Doing so can transform obstacles into stepping stones for personal and professional development.
5. Open Communication: Foster open and honest communication within your team and with leaders. Share your ideas and concerns constructively.
6. Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness into your routine to stay grounded and focused on the present. Incorporating mindfulness into your routine can help you stay grounded and focused on the present. Start your day with a short meditation or gratitude journaling to set a positive tone. Practice mindful breathing throughout the day by taking deep, slow breaths during breaks. Engage in mindful eating by savoring each bite and mindful walking by focusing on the sensations of movement. Use mindfulness apps for guided exercises and create a clutter-free workspace. Incorporate yoga or stretching to release tension and end your day with a calming meditation or reflective journaling. Be kind to yourself, acknowledge your efforts, and treat yourself with compassion. By integrating these practices, you can enhance your well-being and productivity.

Be the Hero of Your Story

Adopting a positive mindset means taking responsibility for your life and actions. Don't give your power away to limiting beliefs. Instead, practice being the hero of your story by owning your journey and making intentional, empowered choices. Change happens for your benefit, and there's always something valuable to learn.

Stay Connected

Where you can find me and follow:

• Instagram - @gmeadmin_insights
• TikTok -@gmeadmin_insights
• Apple Podcast @GME Admin Insights
• Spotify Podcast @GME Admin Insights
• YouTube @GMEAdmin_Insights 

Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Together, we can create a thriving environment for our medical education community.