Whether you think you can, or you think you can't — you're right. — Henry Ford

A few years ago, Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer and a team of researchers put subjects in two flight simulators, one realistic, one broken. Participants in the first group were told to imagine themselves as pilots, and they were even given army fatigues to help them play the part. In the process, each group received an eye exam disguised as part of the simulation.

Langer's team found that subjects who "flew" in the realistic simulator showed a marked improvement in their vision. Langer concluded that pretending to be someone with good vision, like a pilot, had made their vision palpably better. This study, and others conducted by Langer, suggests that the power of our minds is, well, actually mind-bending. What if we choose to think of ourselves as creative? As confident?

In my case, I decided to think of myself as someone who "decides with absolute certainty." So, I wrote that phrase on a sticky note and keep copies on my desk at work and my fridge at home. Seeing that credo every day has enabled me to unconsciously make faster decisions.

Think about what matters to you. What gives meaning to your life? We occasionally lose sight of our values — the things that define and drive us — and with them, our confidence in the future. If you aren't aligned with your values, it's easy to let limiting beliefs control you: I'm not smart enough, I don't have the resources, I'm not in a creative environment. But the reality is you are the X factor in this formula. If you change your mindset, you change yourself.

What's the first step explore your meaning? Identify your top three core values, then define steps you can do each week to embody that value. You value creativity? Set 15 minutes aside to doodle. You love adventure? Visit one new place every week.



