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Have you ever felt trapped by your thoughts? Maybe you have been told there is only one way to succeed, but what if that is not true? Thinking differently is not just a mindset; it is an art, and like any art, it requires the right tools and practice.
Thinking differently means challenging traditional beliefs, reframing negative thought cycles, and making intentional choices that align with our values and goals. It involves recognizing when to pivot and shifting perspectives to take control of our mindset. Ultimately, it is about creating success and embracing new opportunities with clarity and confidence.
Your Thoughts Define Your Success
Have you ever felt stuck in a negative thought cycle? You are not alone. Research shows that we have thousands of thoughts every day and a significant portion of these thoughts lean negative. This is due to our brain’s natural survival mechanism; it is wired to detect and anticipate danger. However, in modern life, this can mean dwelling on mistakes, fearing failure, and feeling paralyzed by self-doubt.
It is important to identify these negative spirals and replace them with empowering, accurate thoughts. For example, instead of thinking, "I will never be good at this," you can reframe it as, "I am learning and improving every time I try." This simple shift can have a profound impact on your confidence and performance.
During past challenges, I have followed a pattern of thinking to push out of challenging, sometimes “unserving” thoughts. I call this the ThinkDiffTM Model. It is a simple yet transformative tool that helps you break free from limiting beliefs and embrace new opportunities. This structure helps redirect negative thought patterns into accurate, actionable steps. Imagine replacing self-doubt with self-assurance or turning indecision into clarity. That is what the ThinkDiffTM Model helps you achieve.
What is the ThinkDiffTM Model?
The ThinkDiffTM Model is a step-by-step process for analyzing your commitments and making strategic decisions. However, you need to recognize when you are stuck in a cycle of unserving thoughts. These thoughts may be self-doubt or fear. Or these thoughts may be self-sabotaging as you compare your accomplishments against other’s achievements or define yourself as an imposter. I usually realize my unserving thoughts when my “attitudy” emotions take control of my day. This is when I know I need to find my notebook and the ThinkDiffTM Model to process to a new thought.
PUSH-BE-DO are the main components of this powerful tool. As you can see in the visual model, PUSH is an acronym for Ponder Options, Unemotionalize, Slow Down, and Humble Yourself. You can find a full definition of each piece of this tool in my new book, “Winners are Quitters: The Art of Thinking Differently.” For today, I want to dig into one quadrant of the PUSH section of the model – Ponder Options.
There is always more than one way to do anything, including how we think. Just look at politics in our world! If I think something is good, there is someone else who thinks it is bad. When I find myself spinning in a thought that is not helping me succeed, the first step is to ponder my options. I need to creatively create a list of how else I could think about my situation. How else can I solve my challenge?
The Navy SEALs have a motto, “You’ve only got three choices in life: Give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got.” Notice that quitting is an option.
Quitting is an Option
For many of us, the idea of quitting carries a stigma. Society tells us that perseverance is the key to success, that winners never quit, and that quitting means giving up. But is that always true? I have found that quitting the right things can actually propel me forward.
The idea of quitting has always intrigued me—not as a negative choice but as a purposeful pivot toward something better. Through my journey as a pilot, accountant, corporate trainer, and now leadership coach, I have discovered that quitting the right things can lead to winning big in life.
Let’s face it, life can feel like a chaotic storm of decisions and commitments. But what if you could let go of the obligations, thought patterns, or even jobs that no longer serve your goals? You can do this by learning how to think differently.
Let’s do an exercise together to practice thinking differently. What would you say is the opposite of success?
Failure is a common answer to this question. No, that is not true. Failure is a piece of success. You need failures to guide you toward the answer. Look at all of the failures that Abraham Lincoln faced when running for political office. He lost seven elections before being chosen as our sixteenth President of the United States. Did he fail seven times? Or did he learn how to pivot in his actions and thinking?
What have you failed at? How is that failure actually a piece of your success?
Have you ever thought about failure or success this way? You are now thinking differently!
How to Quit the Right Things and Press Forward on Others
Quitting falls into this same category as failure. It could be defined as defeat or giving up. Or it can be defined as necessary to move forward toward your purpose and success. It is a viable option to ponder when evaluating your activities.
By using the entire ThinkDiffTM Model, you will strategically:
Imagine you have been assigned to a project that drains your energy. Instead of staying stuck, the ThinkDiffTM Model helps you reframe your perspective, evaluate whether your role aligns with your goals, and make an informed decision to either improve your situation or request a change.
Using this model, you can confidently decide when to persist, when to pivot, and when to quit. It is not about quitting for the sake of quitting, it is about quitting with intention and clarity.
Let Me Help You Win
Quitting is not the answer to every challenge. It is an option that needs to be fully evaluated. What is one belief, habit, or commitment that is holding you back? Are you ready to explore how to open doors to greater success by thinking differently? Whether it is through my book, my coaching programs, or my engaging talks, I am here to guide you. Let’s challenge it together.
Visit my website www.kathierotz.com to learn more about booking me for your next event or to grab a copy of Winners Are Quitters from Amazon. Let’s discover the art of thinking differently together.
