
I've been digging into "Mind Your Mindset" by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller, and I have to say, it's been one of those books that makes you sit up straight, take notes, and rethink how you approach...well, pretty much everything.
We all know that success, whether personal or professional, starts in your head. But Hyatt takes it further—it's not just about positive thinking or setting goals; it’s about reprogramming your brain for growth and possibility, regardless of your starting point.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
The foundation of this book is simple but powerful: the stories we tell ourselves shape our reality. We all have a running narrative in our minds, sometimes without even realising it. Hyatt and Miller point out that your brain constantly interprets events, people, and circumstances through the lens of these stories, and this deeply affects your ability to succeed—or fail.
One of the most striking points for me was realising how often we operate on autopilot. Our brain filters information, deciding what’s important and what isn’t, based on the storylines we’ve been running for years.
These stories influence our emotions, our reactions, and, ultimately, our outcomes. So, if we want to change our results, we need to first change those stories.
For instance, how many times have you thought, "I'm just not good at public speaking," or "I'm not cut out to be a business owner"?
That’s not reality—that’s a story you’ve been telling yourself. And, as Hyatt argues, it’s holding you back.
Science-Backed Strategies to Rewire Your Brain
Hyatt doesn't just spout philosophy; he backs his points with solid brain science. One of the more fascinating parts of the book explains how the reticular activating system (RAS) functions as a filter for the massive amounts of information our brains encounter daily. The RAS only lets through what it considers important, and what it considers important is determined by—you guessed it—the stories we’ve been telling ourselves.
So, the key to success isn’t necessarily about working harder or longer. It’s about rewiring your brain to see opportunities where before you saw obstacles.
By changing the narratives you run (that is - by choosing what you want to see!) you can train your RAS to filter for things that will propel you forward instead of holding you back. This isn’t some hokey self-help fluff either; it’s grounded in neuroscience.
After reading this, I chose to start telling myself about the speaking engagements and opportunities to work with groups and communities (in addition to the 1:1 mentoring I already did). Within 5 weeks I was booked for 2 events... go RAS!
Interrupting the Cycle: The Power of Self-Awareness
One of the book’s most eye-opening ideas is that if you want to change your mindset, you first need to interrupt your brain's autopilot. So much of what we do every day happens automatically—based on habits and past experiences.
Hyatt emphasises the need to introduce self-awareness into the equation. Before you can rewrite the story your brain is telling you, you need to first recognise when it’s happening.
For example, let’s say you're about to do a presentation, and you suddenly feel inadequate. The story playing in your head is something like, "I don’t belong here. I'm not smart enough." If you don't catch it, your brain will look for evidence to support that feeling. It’s going to magnify every awkward moment, every pause, and every raised eyebrow to validate your story of inadequacy.
But what if you interrupt the cycle right there? What if, instead of letting that story run the show, you took a breath, recognised it for what it was—a story, not reality—and actively rewrote it? You could replace it with a new, empowering narrative like, "I am fully capable of handling this situation. I’ve prepared, I’m knowledgeable, and I deserve to be here."
This is exactly what happened with a mindset mentoring client of mine Zara* who was speaking alongside a confident male colleague who would get all the questions to answer as she came across lacking confidence.
We worked through the self-talk and the emotions that came up - but also more importantly where they stemmed from originally, and resolved to process the emotional charge around this before reframing her identity. This technique helped Zara to walk on stage with confidence and step into her empowered state going forward.
The 3-Step Process for Mindset Change
What I really appreciated about Hyatt’s approach is that it’s practical and actionable. He doesn’t just say "change your thinking"; he gives a clear three-step process to do it.
1. Notice the Story: You can’t change a story if you don’t even realise you’re telling it. This step is all about mindfulness—paying attention to the thoughts running through your mind, especially in moments of stress, doubt, or failure.
2. Interrogate the Story: Once you've noticed the story, it’s time to ask questions. Is this really true? Do I have solid evidence to back it up, or am I just making assumptions based on fear or past experiences? This step encourages a mindset of curiosity and investigation, which is key to breaking free from limiting beliefs.
3. Rewrite the Story: This is where the magic happens. Once you’ve identified and interrogated your existing story, you can replace it with a new one. Not just a random new thought, but one that’s based on evidence, facts, and empowerment. This isn’t about blind optimism; it’s about creating narratives that serve you and move you toward your goals.
The Business Connection: Leading with a Growth Mindset
For anyone running a business, Mind Your Mindset provides a blueprint for working with others. Hyatt argues that your mindset isn’t just about personal growth; it’s also crucial for how you manage others. If you, as a business owner, are stuck in a limiting story, it’s going to trickle down to your team.
For instance, if you believe "growth is impossible in this market" it will inadvertently communicate that belief to their team through actions, decisions, and even body language. They'll will pick up on that mindset and become demotivated. On the other hand, if you have a growth mindset—someone who believes in the possibility of expansion and innovation—you can inspire the team to think creatively and push beyond limits.
The book makes a compelling case for why business owners should prioritise working on their mindset.
Your brain is your most powerful business tool, and when you harness it properly, you can unlock opportunities, overcome challenges, and inspire those around you to do the same.
Reframing Failure: A Step Toward Growth
Another key takeaway is the idea of reframing failure. In Hyatt’s view:
"Failure is not the end of the road; it’s simply feedback."
Successful people don’t see setbacks as a reflection of their abilities or potential; they see them as a sign that they’re on the path to success. The sooner we can adopt this mindset, the faster we can move forward after life’s inevitable bumps in the road.
I found this especially helpful in my own work. Like anyone else, I've had projects that didn’t go according to plan. Hyatt’s framework of interpreting failure as feedback has given me a way to reframe those experiences, so they don’t drag me down mentally.
Instead of thinking, "This didn’t work, so I’m not good at this!" I can now say, "That's interesting, next time I’ll try something different and see how that goes."
Real-World Application: My New Approach
Reading the book Mind Your Mindset has genuinely changed the way I approach my day-to-day life. I’ve started paying more attention to the stories I’m telling myself—both personally and professionally.
When I catch a limiting belief creeping in, I try to stop, examine it, and ask if it’s based in reality. If not, I rewrite it into something more productive.
For example, I used to tell myself that I wasn’t a “natural” at certain things—like public speaking or social media marketing. But once I dug into those beliefs, I realised they were just stories based on a few bad experiences, not my actual ability. I’m actively working to change those narratives and move forward with more confidence.
So instead of "Arrrghh! I hate social media marketing!" I now say instead "I'm so grateful for the free platforms to connect with my people that resonate with my work".
Final Thoughts
In a world that constantly demands more from us—more productivity, more achievement, more success—Mind Your Mindset provides a much-needed reminder that our biggest barrier is often inside our own heads.
By taking control of the stories we tell ourselves, we can reshape our reality and open up new possibilities for growth and success.
It’s not about ignoring challenges or pretending everything is easy; it’s about choosing the mindset that will best serve us in overcoming those challenges. And that’s something we all have the power to do.
What thoughts and beliefs do you want to shift?
Jen Gautier
Mindset Mentor | MakeShiftHappen.co.nz
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