Feel Like You Can't Make Progress Towards Your Goals?

Why do we fail to make progress towards our goals? There are different contributing factors, of course. Personally, when I’m struggling to make progress towards my goals, I’ve learned it usually means I’m trying to do too many things at once or too fast! Other times we get stuck and we self-sabotage. Both of these – and other – reasons boil down to mindset. Mindset affects us not just mentally but physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If you think you can’t get out of debt, you won’t make the choices that would make it possible. The same is true for choices and goals around fitness, relationships, and business.

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Be sure to read to the end of this post to enter the giveaway!

Mindset Changes a Lot of Things

When I was in a Navy training program in college, I arrived at orientation SO out of shape. I had never been a runner even in my best shape, too. And I could do exactly 3 situps that first day.

You read that right…3. Situps.

For our first PRT (Physical Readiness Test), I didn’t think I could run the whole 1.5 miles without walking any of it. But my leaders and peers wouldn’t let me stop or walk. I took longer than anyone else in our group, by far. But I felt so accomplished when I finished that first run! I learned something powerful that day. Even on day 1, completely out of shape, my body could do more than my brain thought it could.

My body could do more than my brain thought it could.

I was never a speedy fast runner, even after years of training. (It’s really okay to say something isn’t my natural gifting, and I knocked the swim qual out of the water!) But a couple months after that first test, I took the PRT again, and had shaved minutes off of my run time. Even more surprising…I discovered that if I got away from the track and the treadmill, I actually enjoyed running. That first run changed my mindset. Knowing I could do it gave me the courage to show up over and over. The mindset shift enabled the behavior shift which allowed me to get stronger, acquire new skills, and make progress towards my goals.

Do you need to unstick your mind to make progress towards your goals?

If you feel like you’re NOT making progress towards your goals, you might need to unstick your mind.

In 2018, I experienced another mindset shift. I’m very goal-driven and love the feeling of achievement, and I take ownership of my work, but for years this meant late hours at the office, piled on top of school and ministry responsibilities. But in 2018, I heard Michael Hyatt interviewed on a podcast episode as he prepared to launch his book Free to Focus. I should definitely come back and write a review of that book, because it has changed my life and I’m always giving it away to people!

But even before reading the book, the interview brought about another mindset shift: this idea of accomplishing more by doing less, and the idea that by focusing on getting good sleep and restricting my work hours to something reasonable, I would actually be able to produce more and better quality work. It was a game changer for me, even though I’m constantly having to relearn the sleep lesson! I thought I was productive before, but this mindset shift enabled me to be more productive and make more progress towards goals, even while getting better sleep and taking better care of myself.

If you are feeling stuck, if you are realizing that you’re not making progress towards your goals, you’re not alone.

We can unstick our minds by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). How? This might come through getting new information (like the book I read), getting in a new community (like my ROTC classmates that wouldn’t let me quit!), or working with a professional like a therapist or a coach (both have been important to my journey). And Mimika Cooney’s new book might be a great resource for you in your process.

Do you need to unstick your mind to make progress towards your goals? Unstick Your Mind Book Cover.

About the Book

Book: Unstick Your Mind: Shift Your Mindset, Develop Grit & Break Barriers

Author: Mimika Cooney

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction, Mindset, Women’s Christian Living, Personal Growth

Release Date: May 8, 2023

Do you question why you have negative thoughts? Every problem in life starts with a thought. Often we get stuck in perpetual cycles of bad thought patterns that cause us to repeat behaviors, over and over again.

But what if there was another way? What if we could unlearn the limiting beliefs, thoughts and ingrained patterns we learnt from childhood? What if we could free our minds and become who ever we wanted to be?

The good news is that you are not stuck with the brain you have!

You may think its is a pipe dream, but the reality is based on the concept of neuroplasticity. The brain is an amazing organ that is always learning.

Mindset is changing the way you think. You CAN learn new ways, new habits, and new success-driven behaviors to finally achieve your goals.

Read this book for dealing with anxiety, and if you want to get over stress and anxiety. Come with me on a journey of self-discovery and unlock the power of your mind!

Discover what elite athletes, CEO’s and high achievers do to unlock their full potential. Once you learn how to shift your mindset and develop grit, you will be positioned to break through any barrier holding you back!

In this powerful book you will discover how to…

Recognize limiting beliefs that are holding you back.
Take control of runaway thoughts that derail you.
Reinvent your habits for better productivity.
Partner with God to unlock your true potential and purpose!

This anxiety book for Christians is designed to help you move past stuck to successful.

Are you ready to change your life by changing your mind? Click here to get your copy!

My Review of Unstick Your Mind:

There were a few things that were a bit repetitive, but that’s probably a good thing, especially because Siri was reading this book to me! There are some “vocabulary words,” especially at the beginning, but Cooney does a decent job defining those terms for normal people.

Unstick Your Mind ties together biblical principles, neuroscience, psychology research and practice, and coaching tools to help you understand how your brain works (how God designed it to work) and how to get past the past and into the future God has designed for you.

There is a free printable workbook that comes with the book – definitely take the few minutes to click the link you’ll find at the beginning of the book, download and print the workbook. There’s a ton of great research behind this book, but the power is in the reflection and application, and as Cooney reminds us, our brains do better at the reflection part (thinking about how we think) with old-fashioned pen and paper. DO the workbook.

I also appreciate that Cooney brings in parts of her own story and does a good job of suggesting a combination of things you can do on your own and outside resources such as your doctor, therapist, or coach depending on the situation. Michael Hyatt says that if you’re inside the Coke bottle you can’t read the label, and getting someone to help you see yourself and walk with you through your healing process can really help you make progress towards your goals. (Stuck on your financial goals? Book a free session with a financial coach here).

About the Author

Mimika Cooney is a leading faith-based Christian Mindset Author and Speaker known as the “Personal Trainer for your Mind”. She empowers Christians to rewire their brain by combining neuroscience, positive psychology, and a faith-based approach. She loves to empower purpose-driven individuals to transform their lives by shifting their mindset habits and patterns, as they pursue growth to achieve extraordinary results.

Mimika is the creator of the “Unstick Your Mind“ a mindset mastery method, a transformative program that equips Christians with the tools to achieve their breakthroughs. Mimika will teach you how to unstick your mind, develop emotional resilience, and unlock your true potential by becoming the boss of your brain!

More from Mimika

Unstick Your Mind was written from a place of deep pain and frustration. Having experienced anxiety, depression and disillusionment for years, I searched for sound biblical advice to help me get out of my mental rut. What I discovered was a lack of useful content that could help turn my compass toward Christ on my journey to mental wellness. After throwing myself into the world of neuroscience, positive psychology and coaching; I emerged with a fresh perspective and a passionate voice to help fellow Christians navigate the amazing miracle of renewing our mind God’s way. The good news is that you CAN change the way you think and completely overhaul your thinking when you focus on renewing your mind using biblical strategies and neuroscience.