One Mindset Shift That Could Change Your Life in a Polarizing World
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
Written by Lisa Mechler, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master
Lisa Mechler is a yoga instructor, Reiki master and speech-language pathologist who offers a unique perspective on wellness by incorporating science, Spirit, and personal experience into her teachings. She is the founder of Lisa Mechler Wellness and offers a blend of yoga, Reiki, somatics, breathwork and meditation to serve the whole person.
You may have heard the saying “life is all about perspective.” For the most part, this is true, but there are some perspectives we can take that may be more impactful than others. Read on to see how to apply one mindset that could change your life.
Why mindset matters
The way we perceive the world has a profound impact on how we experience the situations we encounter. The Stanford Report defines mindset as “the assumptions and expectations you hold about yourself, your life, and the situations around you.” It would make sense, then, that our mindset has a significant impact on the way we operate in the world. For better or worse, we have a choice in how we perceive the people and events in our lives.
For example, imagine you’re driving down a busy street or freeway and another driver speeds past you on the shoulder. There are copious responses you could have, some negative and others, yup, positive! Some options include swearing, calling names, or getting angry at the injustice or lack of regard for public safety. Other options could include assuming the person has an emergency and they're rushing to a hospital, or even simply wishing for the person’s and the community’s well-being. It’s likely that the first set of options affects your mood and even possibly your day, while the second may allow the situation to roll off your back.
One impactful perspective
Depending on the situation, some may argue that any given mindset is more helpful than another. And yet, given the state of our current world, where politics are polarizing, war is raging, suffering at the hands of others is overt, and anxiety and depression are at an all-time high, it is possible that our individual and collective well-being could benefit strongly from one mindset in particular. And that is one of the curiosities.
How curiosity can benefit us as individuals
We've all been in a position where we have been hard on ourselves, shamed ourselves, or beat ourselves up. Whether it’s because we made a mistake, felt guilty for behaving in a certain way, or felt ashamed for something we said, it’s human nature to unleash our inner critic on ourselves. That harsh inner voice sometimes gets louder and even more ruthless when we are speaking to ourselves. It’s an unfortunate but common occurrence to expect ourselves to uphold unattainable standards, even when we wouldn’t expect the same of others.
This is where welcoming in a sense of curiosity can be a game-changer. Relating to yourself with a sense of curiosity allows you to step into the seat of the Observer, witnessing your thoughts and emotions from a non-judgmental place.
At first, this practice (and yes, it’s a practice because it doesn’t always come easily) might look something like, “Oh wow, I just spoke to myself very harshly. Why is that?” Taking this moment to observe and inquire can pull you out of the critique spiral and into a place of understanding. From there, you are given an opportunity to rephrase or speak to yourself more kindly.
As curiosity begins to have a more solidified place in your thought processes, you may begin to investigate how you are feeling physically, mentally, and/or emotionally in any given moment. These inquiries can allow a little more space to exist between feeling something and acting upon it. For example, perhaps mid-workday, you pause and check in with yourself. Because of your curiosity, you notice that you’re feeling overwhelmed by competing deadlines and that you’re having a hard time concentrating. With this information, you can then respond accordingly: maybe you take a few moments away from your desk to get some fresh air, speak to your boss about reprioritizing tasks, or ask a colleague for help. Through this inquiry and subsequent action, you have just shown yourself some compassion for what you’re feeling, problem-solved your way out of a stressful situation, and possibly avoided a pressure-filled conversation with the next person who asks something of you today.
Further application of inner inquiry can begin to reveal our patterns, triggers, and what’s underneath them. Imagine someone did something that annoys you. Maybe someone left another dish in the sink, or someone keeps talking during your favorite show. Before lashing out or getting upset, you can check in with yourself, notice the annoyance, and get curious as to why it bothers you. Most likely, your irritation has more to do with an unmet need of yours, rather than the person or their action. Regardless of the reason, you’re now free to respond with this extra information and from a place of greater compassion for yourself and others.
This powerful practice of being curious about why you’re feeling a certain way increases the space to respond in a way that is authentic to your truest self, rather than being taken over by the feelings of any given moment or situation.
How curiosity can benefit the collective
Approaching life with a sense of curiosity not only benefits us as individuals, but it can also impact our collective well-being. Our world is struggling right now: famine, war, and injustices against groups of people due to their appearance, lifestyle, religion, or place of origin are rampant and undeniable. It’s impossible to watch the news or open social media without being bombarded by the suffering and atrocities that so many people are facing across the globe.
For some, being on the frontlines of advocacy and social change efforts is a natural space to be in. Yet for others, there can be a sense of hopelessness, not knowing how we can create change in a way that is meaningful and authentic.
Luckily, the way we relate to ourselves and each other on an individual and interpersonal level can make the meaningful difference we seek, especially when we welcome curiosity into the picture.
It is easy for humans to fall into the trap of “othering” when we point to other groups of people and use our differences to ”justify” why some people are inferior or deserve different treatment than others. Yet when we begin to ask questions of one another, rather than point fingers, we often find our similarities outweigh our differences. Imagine you are at a social gathering and you find that an acquaintance has a different political affiliation from you. You have several choices: you can get upset and begin a heated argument; you could promptly end the conversation, judging the person as you walk away; or you can welcome curiosity into the interaction. You could ask questions, seeking to understand their differing perspective, staying open to the possibility that there may be some similarities baked into your values, thoughts, or opinions. You may end the conversation agreeing to disagree, but at the very least, the open, non-judgmental dialogue likely would leave both parties feeling positive about the interaction. And this positivity has a ripple effect on everyone else you make contact with that day.
Your perspective holds power
As Gandhi said so beautifully,
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
It’s probably safe to say that we all believe our world could be kinder. And if we could all insert a little more curiosity into our interactions with ourselves and others, imagine just how better off we’d be. We would all be sweeter to ourselves, more self-aware, and more compassionate towards one another. And we’ll likely learn a thing or two along the way.
Do you feel like looking inward with curiosity is a challenge? You’re not alone! Through energy work, movement practices, and somatics, Lisa can guide you towards the most curious version of yourself. If you feel called, click here to learn more and connect.
Read more from Lisa Mechler
Lisa Mechler, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master
Lisa Mechler, RYT500, RPYT, CCC-SLP, is a Reiki master, yoga teacher with additional specialization in Prenatal yoga, licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, mom, and animal lover. She was drawn to yoga in 2006 as a form of exercise, but after continued practice, she noticed her inner dialogue shifting: she was kinder to herself, and life began to feel more peaceful. She has completed extensive training in yoga, energy work, and somatics, and has a passion for sharing their physical, mental and Spiritual benefits with others.
