Written by: Dr. Allen Lycka, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Does everything around you have undue influence? Do the stress, the drama, and the negativity become your problems? You may find yourself dwelling on other peoples' problems. Or you might wish you didn't get caught up in their negative thoughts.
It's too easy for you to be dragged down by the things around you. You need to develop better insight and a more resilient min.
Creating an Impenetrable Mindset™ takes dedication. However, resilience becomes a practice when you become mentally resilient and execute the methods I share below. I've been working at this for my whole life and can provide you with the tools you need to become resilient. In my soon-to-be-released course, Impenetrable Mindset™, you will have all the tools and exercises t get you there.
I'll share my story with you to show I devoted myself to resilience. Then, I'll give you the things you need to guide you through the fear that too many of us feel so that you can develop and sustain a resilient mindset.
I only sometimes had a resilient mindset.
If we have met, you know how I became a survivor, a thriver, and a powerful force. But, if don't know you me, let me tell you a bit about myself:
Nowadays, I'm typically introduced as a world-leading authority on cosmetic surgery, entrepreneur, a 3X international best-selling and award-winning author, much sought-after speaker, coach, trainer, mentor, host, executive producer of 3 top radio shows with millions of listeners, consultant, philanthropist, and publisher, but my life hasn't always been filled with victory. I had to become resilient.
While all the titles and awards are accurate, I grew up in a low-income family. I struggled financially to get my university education. I had to fight to get a dermatology position and leave my country to get it. I'm a survivor and a medical miracle. In 2003, at the height of my cosmetic surgery career, I was told, "Get your affairs in order. You have ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). You have six months to live. I am here due to my grit, tenacity, and mindset. Still, I dominated the field of cosmetic surgery until I walked away in 2019. Then COVID hit, and I had to pivot once again.
So, how did I overcome these obstacles and manage to come away with an Impenetrable Mindset™? The simple answer is that I made a decision. Then, I took determined action and consistently practiced the tools and strategies I learned and implemented along the way.
The more precise answer? I nailed the steps that I describe below and practice them every day. These steps are simple in theory, but they are not easy, and you can start using them today.
Steps to build a resilient mindset
Building an Impenetrable Mindset™ starts with you choosing to become resilient. You must also be committed to destroying any challenges that life brings you and finding a community that will help you and holds you responsible. Over time, you will become more powerful and build an impervious mindset. I have that community for you at FantasticLiving.ca. It's free – join it.
The following are steps you can take to become resilient. These steps aren't in any particular order, but each is an integral part of your journey.
Change how you tell your story.
An essential way to change your story lies in how you tell it. For example, what words do you use? What viewpoint are you sharing?
For example, you could tell everyone you meet about your challenges and use them as excuses for not reaching your goals.
Or, you can tell everyone about the challenges you've overcome. That you've readjusted your goals and how when one door closed, you opened another and, despite all odds, became a successful, happy, fulfilled person.
I know you can't choose what's happened to you. I do. As I say in How To Live A Fantastic Life – it's not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens. But I also know that when you change the story, you tell yourself about what's happened to you, and in doing so, you change your life.
Be aligned with your why
Your why is a double-edged sword – it is your fuel and anchor. But, on the other hand, you're why is your reason for being, and when you understand why, it will propel you forward. Victor Frankl, a survivor of concentration camps in Nazi Germany, wrote about this in his book, The Search For Meaning.
Understanding and connecting to your why gives you strength, resolve, drive, and focus.
If you do not yet know you're why that's okay. Take the time to reflect and ask yourself what drives you. Think about why you do the things you do and who you do them for. Next, make a list of things that are most important to you in life. Then, take that list and ask yourself again for each item, "Why is this important to me?" Then, ask yourself again for each answer, "Why does that matter to me?"
Please take a look at my chapter in my book The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life on Ikigai because it can give you some guidance n finding your purpose.
This process may take many layers to strip away to get to your core why. That's okay. Just keep searching until you get there.
Become internally free
When you are strongly aligned with who you are and what you want from life, you will become internally accessible. Take time to understand what matters to you and why each is important. When deeply connected to your needs, making decisions that lead you toward your goals becomes more accessible. Then you can develop a list of non-negotiables t guide you.
When you develop a resilient mindset, making value-based decisions becomes second nature. Everything you do will be in alignment with your beliefs. You will guard your mind so fiercely that you won't let anyone or anything that doesn't align with your goals stand between you and your bigger future.
Become intentional about how you spend your time
People with resilient minds are cautious about the messages they consume. This means they are clear about what ideas are delivered to them if they watch television. In addition, they may spend more time reading or listening to personal development materials such as books, audiobooks, or podcasts rather than popular media.
Be sure to determine what is and isn't helping you as you build your resilient mind.
Additionally, be aware of the people you are spending your time with. Are people building you up or tearing you down? Are they moving in the same direction that you want to be going? Finally, be careful and intentional about who you listen to and associate with.
Overcome Your Fears
Accomplishing your dreams are on the other side of your fears. Fear is the most prevalent emotion and cripples you. F.E.A.R. stands for
F- False
E - Expectations
A - Appearing
R - Real
80% of the things we fear never happen, and 95% are much less than dread. So move forward
Are you ready to build your Impenetrable Mind™?
Creating an Impenetrable Mind™ takes practice. It is something that you will often need accountability and support for. You may work with a mindset coach or join a community of like-minded people. Depending on what's most comfortable for you, you might seek out groups that meet in person or connect with a global network online.
As you seek out your resilient network, I invite you to check out my free community, FantasticLiving.ca. This community will teach you how to:
Identify what is holding you back from living a joyful, abundant life you love.
Align your mindset with tools and techniques to take you from where you are to where you want to be.
Design your custom action plan to help you live life on your terms.
If you're ready to live a joyful, abundant life that's purpose-filled and aligned, then the first step is to build a resilient mindset.
Dr. Allen Lycka
An impact-driven leader who leads from his heart and facilitates change, Dr. Lycka helps entrepreneurs and businesses come alive; authors write their books and get them into the world. Speakers amplify their message to scale their impact. And helps companies transform disenfranchised workers into enthusiastic champions.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info!
Dr. Allen Lycka, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was diagnosed with ALS and given six months to live. After fighting the diagnosis, he is here today as a result of his courage and tenacity. Having been given a “golden ticket” Dr. Lycka used his experience to co-author the books The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life with Harriet Tinka, Pillars of Success with 1 New York Times Best Selling Author Jack Canfield and bLU volume 1 with Corey Poirier. He is the host and executive director of How To Live a Fantastic Life show with 4 million listeners per episode. He is a sought-after speaker.
