Diet of the Mind: 8 Easy Ways to Improve How You Feed Your Thinking

Do you agree that what you put into your mind, what you think about on a regular basis, becomes who and what you are? This is what the concept of “Diet of the Mind” came to mean in a recent Mastermind client session.

Today, as the new year approaches quickly, I’d ask that you begin thinking about what 2016 holds for you and how you need to improve the diet of your mind to make it happen the way you want. Don’t just think in terms of what you eat (though that’s important). Think of what you feed your mind. Think in terms of how you spend your time, your money and your attention.

If you want to live a masterful life, a life full of extraordinary RESULTS, it all begins with changing your thinking. Below, I’ve listed out some very practical ways to make improving your diet of the mind easier. Take a couple of these tips and put them into use right away!

8 Easy Ways to Quickly Improve Your Diet of the Mind:

1. Load Up on Great Audio Download: Audio books and podcasts on your phone so you can maximize the time you spend in the car, in the gym, jogging or even in the yard. Most podcasts are free, and audio books are extremely accessible now with websites like Audible.com and iTunes. Stock up on a few at a time, and you’ll be shocked how quickly you can get through some of the best resources on the planet.
2. Turn Your TV Into a Classroom Web TV: :Products like Apple TV can give you instant access to some of the best education on the planet. Fire up Netflix, iTunes University or even just YouTube videos and watch documentaries, biographies and lectures from your couch.
3. Meet Regularly with Your Mentors and Coaches: Once you find the right people for strategic advice, meet with them often. “Meeting” can sometimes just be a quick email or text. Other times, it’s a scheduled phone call or even a scheduled in-person meeting. Prioritize time with these people. Gaining their perspective and input will have a profound impact on your trajectory.
4. Create an Informal Board: Have a list of 5 to 10 people with whom you reach out to regularly for input. These don’t have to be your formal “mentors and coaches.” They can be colleagues you respect, friends and even family. The point is to identify people who can deliver productive input and insights. Communicate with them often (even travel with them when possible), and trade ideas.
5. Read Constantly: It’s an age-old cliche, but leaders really are readers. What’s your reading plan for 2016? Identify the best books, magazines and blogs that fit you and where you’re going. Subscribe to magazines like SUCCESS magazine to constantly receive tips and advice from the world’s most successful leaders.
6. Study Video from the Web: I’m a huge fan of watching informative videos online. Search for certain topics on YouTube, or for certain presenters. Also, browse TED talks for some of the most forward-thinking presentations on just about any topic in the world.
7. Share Your Thinking with Your Colleagues: So many leaders make the mistake of keeping their ideas and their journey to themselves. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you learn and how much others you work with learn when you share ideas. Your colleagues are people who understand your business and what you do typically better than most. Leverage that shared knowledge and share ideas often.
8. Read and Study the Bible and Sermons: As a Christian, I look to the Bible as my ultimate source of wisdom and guidance. I love supplementing my study by listening to sermons of my favorite pastors via their church’s podcasts.

Cheers to your success in 2016. My hope is that you can use some of these tips to drastically improve your RESULTS this coming year.