Mindsets and the practice of APR
why adaptability and resilience matter
When you find yourself in a less resilient mindset, there's some good news. Research shows that mindsets are malleable. Not only can you change your mindsets over time, you can even shift them in the short term. One way to have your mindset shifted is priming. For example, there are experiments in which students about to take an exam were shown either intelligence words or neutral random words.
You can guess that the students primed on intelligence statistically achieved better results on their exam. This is why inspiring quotes, morning mantras, and other self-priming techniques can be so effective. But there are times you need something more powerful and pointed to shift your mindset.
This is where the APR technique can help. The basic idea is that you bring awareness to your current mindset and realize how it affects your behavior. Pause to create a wedge in which you can choose to do something differently—take on a different lens, so to speak—and use specific reflection questions to reframe your mindset into one that serves you better.
This in turn will help you respond through your behavior, emotions, and thoughts in a way you desire. This technique is very helpful in the moment. It's also helpful for the long term. The continual practice of APR can help change any entrenched mindsets that have become the default from years of repetition and reinforcement.
Practicing APR
The beauty of APR is that it can be utilized at any time to shift your mindset in subtle or bold ways. Let’s take two minutes to practice it right now.
Awareness: Think of something you have been finding challenging. What does it make you think and feel? What are your mindsets?
Pause: Take a pause in this very moment to center yourself. Maybe take a few deep breaths or plant your feet on the floor.
Reframe: What opportunities would there be if you were to shift your mindset?
Continue to think about ways you can flexibly incorporate APR in your daily practices. In particular, think about how you can practice integrating questions that will help you to reframe specific mindsets.
https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve#t-91366
Wrap up
Take a moment to imagine how your personal and work life would be different if you consciously created the world around you instead of just reacting to it. Being aware of our mindsets—and working to shift them over time—helps us to see the world in new ways and to start making more resilient choices.