3 Ways to Expand Your Thinking Capacity

3 Ways to Expand Your Thinking Capacity

“The potential that exists within us is limitless and largely untapped…when you think of limits, you create them.” ~Robert J. Kriegel and Louis Patler

I recently read that experts believe most people only use 10 percent of their potential.

That was a wake-up call to me to be more mindful about using my own.

Something I came to realize is you have the complete authority to change the way you think.

You weren’t predestined at birth to think a specific way all the days of your life and to have a specific outcome based off that thinking.

Outside factors influence us growing up, and then as we mature into adults, it’s up to us to take authority over our lives, and half the battle is training yourself up in the way you think.

If you hold beliefs about yourself such as, “I’ll never be able to do that,” or “This is just the way it is for me,” your thinking is limiting you from reaching your God-given potential.

We all have God-given potential. It’s just a matter of unlocking it.

So, how do we tap into the 90 percent of unspent potential?

We have to change the way we think and then change what we do.

I have a secret to share with you: There are no limits stopping you now.

The only limits existing are the ones you created in your mind based on your limiting beliefs.

You must change your thinking to create the results in your life you desire.

What would you do if you knew there were absolutely no limits?

Let’s talk three ways to expand your thinking capacity.

3 Ways to Expand Your Thinking Capacity

Work smart instead of working more.

It may seem an obvious assumption that by putting in more work, you’ll accomplish more.

However, this is often not the case.

More of the same equals more of the same.

So, if the output you’re receiving now by putting in extra work isn’t reaping the results you desire, all that extra work is for naught.

Instead, you need to focus on what works and working smarter, not harder.

In his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John Maxwell suggests asking yourself these three questions to figure out what works.

What:

…am I required to do?
…gives me the greatest return?
…provides the greatest reward?

These questions help you discover what you must do, what you ought to do, and what you want to do.

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**Ask yourself the right question.**

“What would you attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail?” ~Robert Schuller

Instead of asking yourself, “Can I?” which is limiting, ask yourself, “How Can I?”

“Can I?” is a question filled with doubt, questions your ability, and places limits on you.

“How Can I?” is a question that assumes there is a way and it’s just a matter of discovering it.

John Maxwell says, “Most of your limitations are based not on lack of ability, but lack of belief.”

That’s the difference between asking yourself, “Can I?” or “How Can I?”

In his book, You, Price Pritchett says of skepticism:

“Your skepticism, which you presume is based on rational thinking and an objective assessment of factual data about yourself, is rooted in mental junk. Your doubts are not the product of accurate thinking, but habitual thinking. Years ago you accepted flawed conclusions as correct, began to live your life as if those warped ideas about your potential were true, and ceased the bold experiment in living that brought you many breakthrough behaviors as a child. Now, it’s time for you to find that faith you had in yourself before.”

The first step to achieve anything is to believe you can.

Perseverance is the second step.

When it gets tough, when you failed, when you’re seeing little progress, keep going.

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Know the sky’s the limit when it comes to your options.

Think in terms of options, not limitations.

It sounds cliché, but that old saying, “when one door closes, another one opens” has some truth to it.

And if that door closes, go through the window!

There’s not just one way to get from point A to point B.

For years, I preferred to do everything by the book. I was always looking for someone to give me the directions on the path I was taking.

I always needed someone’s model example to follow, to avoid having to do any of the hard figuring it out on my own.

And that is exactly why I was working a mediocre job-I didn’t want to put in the work to expand my thinking.

The truth is, the directions aren’t always going to lead you to your destination.

Sometimes, you have to alter your course along the journey.

It’s like when your GPS is telling you to take a specific route, but you missed a turn and discovered a better way without the GPS’s help.

You were lost for a minute and a little freaked out, but you felt better once you discovered that better, alternate route.

Don’t limit yourself by relying on only one solution.

When contemplating your options, keep these four things in mind:

There is more than one way to succeed at anything.
Creativity and adaptability increase your odds of arriving anywhere.
Intentional movement creates possibilities.
Failures, mistakes and setbacks are all great experiences to learn from and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Related:

Before You Go

Your greatest challenge is to expand your thinking capacity.

Everything starts in your mind.

Anything you want in life-a better job, more money, to get in shape, buy a house, start a business, etc.-starts in your mind.

Change your thinking, and you can change your whole life.

“Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Lisa

Hi! I'm Lisa. I help women live purposeful, fulfilling and joyful lives. I'm happily married and a fur mom to two boxers and two rabbits. I love Jesus, freelance writing, fitness, personal development, reading books, football, cross-stitching, and video games.