Did you know the average human head weighs about 10 pounds? That’s not much, but nod your noggin if your thoughts ever feel incredibly heavy. Especially for high-capacity leaders like you—balancing never-ending leadership demands, family commitments, and personal goals—all while hoping to not lose your mind.
Here’s what blows my mind: that beautiful 10-pound powerhouse between your shoulders doesn’t only process information—it shapes your entire lived reality. Your mindset makes or breaks your outcomes. The way you think and where you focus your energy directly impacts whether you feel productive, centered, and fulfilled—or scattered, stuck, and overwhelmed.
Don’t forget: What you focus on expands.
Quick, but Powerful Exercise
In the primary article about our mental wholeness framework, we shared this exercise which helps you discern how your mindset is impacting your results.
- ASSESS YOUR THOUGHTS. Are your conscious thoughts primarily positive or negative? Are you thinking about possibilities and problem solving? Are you hopeful for the future? Are your thoughts leading you in a direction you want to continue? Discern whether your thoughts are more positive or negative these days.
- ANALYZE YOUR FOCUS. Do you have clearly defined priorities and goals? Do you have time blocked in your calendar to work on them? Are you easily distracted? Do you spend too much time on “fancy busy work”? Be honest with yourself about whether your focus is high or low right now.
Then, plot your thoughts and focus on the matrix below to discover your current reality of your results:
What the Science Says about Your Results
Neuroscience shows that the combination of your thoughts and focus dictates your outcomes. Looking at where you plotted your current thoughts and focus levels, this is what your Mindset Matrix results mean:
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GOAL ACHIEVEMENT results from Positive Thoughts and High Focus
This is your sweet spot—where positive thoughts and high focus are aligned with your purpose and productivity. When you focus with clarity and optimism, your brain hits peak performance (hello, flow state), boosting creativity, resilience, and results. -
UNFULFILLED POTENTIAL results from Positive Thoughts and Low Focus
Even with a positive outlook, without focus, your energy spreads thin. In this part of the Mindset Matrix you’re experiencing scattered progress, which leads to half-finished projects, procrastination, and that nagging sense of underperformance. -
STUCK & STAGNANT results from Negative Thoughts and Low Focus
This is the zone where you’re feeling emotionally drained. Negative self-talk paired with low focus keeps you spinning in circles, leading to mental exhaustion and overwhelm. -
BURNOUT & STRESSED results from Negative Thoughts and High Focus
Hyper-focusing through a negative lens can lead to burnout and toxic productivity—pushing hard but never feeling “enough.”
Now that you’ve identified what your current state means, you can train your brain to more effectively align with your thoughts and focus your mind.
3 Actionable Steps Forward
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Anchor Your Thoughts with Intention: Start your day by aligning your mindset on what matters most today. Choose a mindset mantra that aligns with your goals (e.g., “I will focus on what matters most today”). This primes your brain to seek out positive, goal-aligned thoughts.
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Use Energy Bursts & Breaks to Maximize Focus: Train your brain to work for you, not against you.
- Energy Bursts: Block 60–90-minute windows to focus on your top priorities. No distractions—just deep, focused work.
- Energy Breaks: Schedule breaks to disconnect mentally and recover your energy. Walk, switch tasks, turn off technology, or breathe deeply—these give your brain space for creative problem-solving.
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Reframe Negative Thoughts in Real-Time
When negativity creeps in (and it will), pause and reframe. Ask yourself, “Is this thought helping me achieve my desired result?” If not, shift it. This trains your mind to stay aligned with your goals.
These action steps won’t change your thoughts overnight, but they will change your leadership when you do something things. You’ll feel centered, energized, and empowered to lead holistically in every area of your life.