In a world of constant change and uncertainty, finding true fulfillment and success can seem like an impossible task. However, Josh Axe's book "Think This, Not That" offers a powerful perspective: the key to a meaningful life lies not just in what we achieve, but in who we become. This insightful work introduces the concept of mindshifts – transformative changes in our thinking patterns that can revolutionize how we approach life's challenges and opportunities.
Introduction: The Power of Mindshifts
Axe's book is built on the premise that our thoughts shape our reality. By consciously altering our thought patterns, we can create profound changes in our lives. These mindshifts are not just about positive thinking; they're about fundamentally restructuring our approach to life's various aspects – from personal growth to professional success, from relationships to our impact on the world.
The book presents several key mindshifts, each designed to move us from common, often limiting thought patterns to more empowering and productive ones. These shifts challenge us to look inward, reassess our motivations, and align our actions with our deepest values. By doing so, we can move beyond superficial achievements and create lives of lasting significance.
The Becoming/Accomplishing Mindshift
One of the most crucial mindshifts Axe introduces is the shift from an accomplishing mindset to a becoming mindset. This transformation is about prioritizing who we are over what we do.
The Pitfall of the Accomplishing Mindset
Many of us fall into the trap of focusing solely on our accomplishments. We measure our worth by our achievements, possessions, or social status. This accomplishing mindset can lead to:
- A disconnect between our actions and our character
- Dissatisfaction with our lives, despite outward success
- Strained relationships, as we prioritize achievements over connections
The Power of the Becoming Mindset
In contrast, the becoming mindset emphasizes the development of our inner selves. It's about cultivating qualities like wisdom, honesty, courage, and justice. This approach offers several benefits:
- Enhanced personal growth and fulfillment
- Improved ability to contribute meaningfully to others' lives
- Stronger leadership skills and more robust relationships
- Increased likelihood of financial success as a byproduct of personal development
Implementing the Becoming Mindset
To shift towards a becoming mindset, Axe suggests asking ourselves questions like:
- "How can I add the most value to the world?"
- "What can I contribute to help others fulfill their potential?"
These questions guide us towards a more introspective and purpose-driven approach to life. They encourage us to focus on our roles as family members, community leaders, or mentors, and how we can continually improve in these areas.
Character as a Dynamic Trait
A key aspect of the becoming mindset is understanding that character isn't fixed – it's something we actively create and refine daily. Unlike unchangeable aspects of our identity (like fingerprints), our character is shaped by consistent actions that reflect our true selves.
This perspective transforms character development into a lifelong journey. It's about building a strong foundation of core traits that guide our interactions and decisions, leading to a more authentic and impactful life.
The Virtues/Vices Mindshift
Another crucial mindshift Axe discusses is the shift from focusing on vices to embracing virtues. This shift is fundamental in crafting a life of excellence and positive impact.
Understanding Virtues
Virtues are qualities like wisdom, courage, and honesty. They're not just lofty ideals but practical tools for becoming our best selves and contributing to the greater good. Axe draws on the concept of the seven divine virtues:
- Prudence
- Justice
- Temperance
- Fortitude
- Faith
- Hope
- Love
These virtues provide a blueprint for living a fulfilling life that inspires others and moves the world forward.
Cultivating Virtues
Importantly, virtues are choices, not innate traits. They're developed through consistent action. For example, courage isn't something we're born with; it's attained by repeatedly acting courageously. Axe emphasizes finding the "golden mean" – a balance that avoids the extremes of excess and deficiency, which can lead to vices.
The Dangers of Vices
Neglecting virtues in favor of modern values or vices can lead to numerous problems. The seven capital vices – wrath, sloth, pride, lust, greed, gluttony, and envy – undermine character and hinder personal and communal progress. They divert us from our true purpose and potential.
From Virtue Signaling to Virtue Solutions
Axe encourages moving beyond mere virtue signaling (actions performed for appearance) to engaging in virtue solutions. This involves:
- Genuine acts of kindness and generosity
- Actively seeking ways to contribute to community needs
- Making virtue a daily habit
By focusing on virtues, we create a life that achieves personal fulfillment – what Aristotle called "eudemonia" or "human flourishing" – while also shaping a world that reflects our highest ideals.
The Principles/Opinions Mindshift
In today's information-saturated world, distinguishing between fleeting opinions and enduring principles is crucial. Axe's principles/opinions mindshift encourages us to base our decisions on foundational truths rather than popular sentiment.
The Problem with Opinion-Based Decision Making
In the age of social media, opinions are abundant and often compelling. However, basing our choices on these ever-changing viewpoints can lead to:
- Inconsistent decision-making
- Vulnerability to manipulation
- Lack of long-term direction in life
The Power of Principle-Based Living
Principles are foundational laws or truths from which other concepts are derived. Adopting a principled mindset offers several advantages:
- More informed and successful choices in various life aspects
- Ability to harness the wisdom of proven successful individuals
- Application of timeless strategies to modern dilemmas
Tools for Principled Thinking
Axe introduces several tools to facilitate principled thinking:
- The 5 Whys: Repeatedly asking "why" to peel back layers of a problem and reach its core.
- First Principles Thinking: Stripping away assumptions to reveal foundational truths of a situation.
- Iceberg Thinking: Looking beyond surface-level issues to understand deeper, underlying factors.
Applying Principles Across Life Domains
The book illustrates how principled thinking can be applied in various areas:
- Health Care: Treating root causes, not just symptoms; viewing food and movement as medicine.
- Career: Aiming for excellence, practicing virtuous leadership, and pursuing continuous innovation.
- Relationships: Prioritizing presence, communication, and mutual respect in marriages and families.
By committing to principled thinking, we can transform our lives from the inside out, making decisions that align with our values and positively impact our surroundings.
The Growth/Fear Mindshift
The final key mindshift Axe discusses is the transition from a fear-based mindset to one focused on growth. This shift is crucial for pushing beyond our comfort zones and realizing our full potential.
Redefining Failure
A growth mindset reframes failure not as a setback but as a vital step toward what Aristotle called "flourishing" – a state of optimal human functioning characterized by resilience and fruitfulness. This perspective sees each failure as an indispensable lesson on the path to success.
The Role of Stress and Fear
While fear is a natural survival mechanism, excessive fear can hinder personal development. Axe argues that the right amount of stress can be beneficial, acting as a catalyst for growth and character strengthening. The key is learning to interpret our responses to challenges as opportunities for improvement rather than threats.
Exposure Therapy and Skill Optimization
Axe introduces two powerful tools for embracing growth:
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually and safely confronting fears to reduce anxiety and increase confidence.
- Skill Optimization: Committing to daily, deliberate practice to refine and advance our abilities.
Setting High Standards
The growth mindset involves setting and maintaining high standards. Rather than striving for perfection, we should focus on continually elevating our standards of being and doing. This approach fuels ongoing growth and achievement, pushing us to extend our limits and enhance our capabilities.
Practical Applications of Mindshifts
Throughout the book, Axe provides practical ways to implement these mindshifts in daily life:
1. Daily Self-Reflection
Set aside time each day to reflect on your thoughts and actions. Ask yourself:
- "Did my actions today align with who I want to become?"
- "What principles guided my decisions today?"
- "How did I face my fears and grow?"
2. Virtue Journaling
Keep a journal where you track your efforts to cultivate virtues. Each day, note:
- A virtue you practiced
- A situation where you chose a virtue over a vice
- How embodying this virtue made you feel
3. Principle-Based Decision Making
Before making important decisions, consciously apply principled thinking:
- Use the 5 Whys technique to understand the core of the issue
- Apply First Principles Thinking to strip away assumptions
- Consider how your decision aligns with your core principles
4. Growth Challenges
Regularly set challenges that push you out of your comfort zone:
- Learn a new skill each month
- Engage in public speaking if it scares you
- Take on projects at work that stretch your abilities
5. Mindshift Meditation
Practice short daily meditations focused on each mindshift:
- Visualize the person you're becoming, not just what you're achieving
- Reflect on virtues you want to embody
- Affirm your commitment to principled living
- Embrace growth opportunities, even if they seem scary
6. Relationship Audit
Periodically assess your relationships through the lens of these mindshifts:
- Are you focusing on becoming a better friend/partner/family member?
- Do your relationships reflect and reinforce virtuous living?
- Are your interactions guided by principles or swayed by opinions?
- Do your relationships encourage growth and facing fears together?
7. Professional Development Plan
Create a career development plan that incorporates these mindshifts:
- Set goals focused on who you want to become in your profession, not just what you want to achieve
- Identify virtues crucial for success in your field and plan how to cultivate them
- Establish principles that will guide your professional conduct and decision-making
- Outline areas for growth and strategies to overcome work-related fears
8. Community Impact Project
Design and implement a project in your community that allows you to apply these mindshifts:
- Focus on how the project helps you become a better community member
- Choose a project that aligns with your core virtues
- Base the project on sound principles rather than popular opinions
- Ensure the project pushes you to grow and face new challenges
The Ripple Effect of Mindshifts
One of the most powerful aspects of these mindshifts is their potential to create positive change beyond our individual lives. As we transform our thinking and behavior, we inevitably influence those around us:
Inspiring Others: By focusing on who we're becoming, we set an example that inspires others to reflect on their own personal growth.
Elevating Relationships: As we cultivate virtues, our interactions with others become more meaningful and constructive.
Principled Leadership: Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, principled thinking enables us to lead with integrity and vision.
Encouraging Growth Culture: Our willingness to embrace challenges and view failures as learning opportunities can foster a growth-oriented environment in our spheres of influence.
Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Mindshifts
While the benefits of these mindshifts are clear, implementing them can be challenging. Axe acknowledges common obstacles and offers strategies to overcome them:
Resistance to Change: Our brains naturally resist change. Combat this by starting small and celebrating small victories in your mindshift journey.
Social Pressure: Others may not understand or support your new approach. Stay committed to your principles and seek out like-minded individuals for support.
Setbacks: You'll likely face moments where you fall back into old thought patterns. View these as opportunities to reinforce your commitment to the new mindsets.
Overwhelm: Trying to implement all mindshifts at once can be overwhelming. Focus on one at a time, allowing each to become habitual before moving to the next.
Measuring Progress: Unlike tangible accomplishments, personal growth can be hard to measure. Keep a journal to track your progress and reflect on your journey.
The Long-Term Impact of Mindshifts
As we consistently apply these mindshifts, we can expect to see profound changes in various aspects of our lives:
Personal Fulfillment: By focusing on becoming rather than just accomplishing, we'll likely experience a deeper sense of purpose and satisfaction.
Improved Relationships: Our focus on virtues and principles will lead to more authentic and meaningful connections with others.
Professional Success: While not the primary goal, our personal growth and principled approach are likely to result in career advancements and opportunities.
Resilience: The growth mindset will equip us to handle life's challenges with greater ease and adaptability.
Positive Legacy: By living a life guided by these mindshifts, we create a lasting positive impact on our families, communities, and potentially the world at large.
Conclusion: Your Life as a Masterpiece
In "Think This, Not That," Josh Axe presents a compelling case for the power of mindshifts in transforming our lives. By shifting our focus from accomplishing to becoming, from vices to virtues, from opinions to principles, and from fear to growth, we can craft lives of true significance and fulfillment.
These mindshifts aren't just about personal success; they're about becoming individuals who positively influence the world around us. They challenge us to look beyond superficial achievements and to cultivate depth of character, wisdom in decision-making, and resilience in the face of challenges.
Implementing these mindshifts is a lifelong journey. It requires consistent effort, self-reflection, and a willingness to challenge our ingrained thought patterns. However, the rewards – a life of purpose, positive impact, and personal growth – are well worth the effort.
As we embrace these transformative ways of thinking, we begin to see our lives not just as a series of accomplishments, but as a masterpiece in the making. Each decision, each interaction, each challenge becomes an opportunity to add depth and beauty to the canvas of our existence.
In a world that often emphasizes quick fixes and surface-level changes, Axe's approach offers a path to lasting transformation. By mastering our minds, we truly can master our lives, creating a legacy that extends far beyond our individual achievements to touch and uplift the lives of others.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. As you close this book, consider which mindshift resonates most with you, and take that first step towards transforming your thinking. Remember, it's not just about thinking differently – it's about becoming the best version of yourself and, in doing so, making your unique and valuable contribution to the world.
Your life is your masterpiece. With these mindshifts as your tools, you have the power to create something truly extraordinary. The canvas awaits – what will you create?