Making a change, achieving a goal, cultivating a stronger sense of self-confidence and leading a more fulfilling life. What do all of these things have in common? The common theme here is that these things all take time and they don’t happen without taking proper action.

One of the most influential factors in regards to our ability to put forth the effort necessary to accomplish our goals and our dreams is cultivating our mindset. Mindset to focus on the things we can control and accepting the things we cannot. The key to cultivating a positive mindset and one that is conducive to the successful pursuit of a fulfilling life is not focusing on the things that are out of your control, but rather focusing on the things that we can control.

This may seem like a fairly simple concept, I totally get it. It is a concept that is easier said than done but if we can trust the process, one that will completely change our lives. Successfully applying this concept can be challenging however learning how to focus on factors within our control can completely foster change in our future, the ability to reach our goals and therefore improving how we show up in this world.

I completely understand how complicated life can be. At any given moment in time, there are a dozen things that require our time, energy, and attention. Kids are hungry, the laundry needs to get done, dust is collecting, there is nothing planned for dinner, your best friend is calling and needs your advice, you need to get in your non-negotiable workout … The list goes on and on.

Most of these things are the things which we have little control over. These are, generally speaking, the things which contribute most to the development of a clouded mindset and overwhelm. Because these things exist, we must employee strategies in order to effectively combat their potentially negative influence on how we take action, or not. Now, it might come as a surprise to some, but a very simple and very powerful component of that strategy for many, myself included, is exercise. We all know that exercise is great for the body as well as the mind.

In my personal opinion, the key to incorporating exercise into an effective positive mindset development strategy is to use it as money in the bank with which you can purchase “no big deal” moments. What the hell does that mean? Well, I have found that by incorporating exercise first thing in the morning, it becomes money in the bank. By completing my workout I have effectively deposited that investment of time and energy into my positive mindset bank before the rest of my day has even begun. This ensures that I will reap the physical and psychological benefits of exercise that put me in a mentally advantageous position to those who have not made their deposit for the day. Better still, by experiencing physical discomfort first thing in the morning I have the ability to purchase “no big deal” moments. What I mean by “no big deal” moments, is that when something occurs that may typically seem inconvenient and that might frustrate most, I find it to be NO BIG DEAL because I have already experienced a REAL challenge through the physical demands of exercise. Now, I have perspective. These inconveniences are not nearly as burdensome as burning lungs and real physical pain. They simply require a step back, and a solution.