Do you want to stop feeling helpless? What’s a visionary mindset, and how will it transform your life?
David Emerald advises that you can overcome the cyclical problems of the helpless mindset by adopting a visionary mindset. With this outlook, you orient yourself to long-term goals, take proactive steps forward, and grow from challenges and setbacks in life.
Below we’ll look at four steps to change your mindset and have a positive outlook on life.
Step 1: Tell a New Story About Yourself
In a helpless mindset, you view yourself as a victim of circumstance, harmed by events beyond your control and limited by the effect of these harms. To adopt a visionary mindset, Emerald calls on you to begin seeing yourself as someone capable of changing your life. In the visionary mindset, you have the power to define yourself and steer your own life rather than being defined by others.
Emerald recommends that you make this shift by telling a different story about your life. He argues that the stories we tell ourselves act as filters through which we interpret the world, and therefore play an enormous role in how we see ourselves. Thus, you can improve your outlook by telling a story that casts you as someone capable and responsible for your life.
For instance, imagine someone who struggles to make friends and says, “I’m shy and awkward, so I’ll never have friends.” They could revise this story to say, “I’m a caring person who’s learning to express myself better. Each day, I’m taking small steps to connect with others and build meaningful relationships.” In this new narrative, they see themselves as having the power to improve their life.
(Shortform note: The idea that we can change our lives by changing the stories we tell is supported by psychological research. According to some psychologists, narrative identity constitutes a person’s internalized and evolving life story. This story integrates past experiences and future goals to provide a cohesive story of fulfilling an important purpose in life. Furthermore, studies have shown that those who construct life stories featuring themes of personal agency and exploration tend to enjoy greater mental wellness, satisfaction, and personal growth.)
Step 2: Focus on Your Vision
Recall that in the helpless mindset, you focus primarily on troubles. Emerald argues that to adopt a visionary mindset, you must start focusing on a vision of the kind of life you want instead. Rather than dwelling on obstacles and setbacks, focus on what you want most and on where you’re trying to get. He also encourages you to aim high with your goals, even if they feel out of reach right now.
However, there’s a good chance that you might not know what you want in life. It’s a vulnerable and sometimes uncomfortable question to ask yourself, but one that Emerald considers essential to achieving a better life through this mindset.
(Shortform note: In trying to find a vision for your life, it might help to spend some time reflecting on who you are and what you consider to be your identity. Researchers have found that the development of purpose and identity are intertwined: People who have a strong sense of identity often have a strong sense of purpose, and that people who have a strong sense of purpose typically have a strong sense of identity as well.)
Step 3: Respond to Your Vision
In the helpless mindset, your actions primarily respond to your worries and fears about your troubles. However, in the visionary mindset, your actions bring you closer to your ultimate goal. You can think of it like navigation: With a clear destination in mind you can direct your energy toward getting there, rather than simply trying to navigate away from obstacles and barriers you encounter, which could send you off course.
(Shortform note: It’s important to understand that your “ultimate goal” may change throughout your life. Researchers have identified several distinct stages in the development of someone’s sense of purpose in life. In the teenage years, people are often seeking to improve the world. In their 20s and 30s, many people are busy with career and family, and they find a sense of purpose in those pursuits. Finally, in midlife and retirement, many people face a dilemma of purpose as jobs end and children move out, forcing them to find a new purpose in their lives or feel adrift.)
However, you’ll still experience anxiety with this approach. Emerald stresses that when you look at where you want to be, and also look honestly at where you are now, the difference between the two can make you feel anxious. He advises that you don’t try to ignore or rationalize the gap. Instead, respond to this anxiety by taking at least one small, proactive step toward your goal. Day by day, these steps will bring you closer to the life you want.
For instance, imagine someone whose ultimate goal is to become a published author. Instead of worrying about potential rejections or writer’s block, they focus on their vision of holding their own book someday. They acknowledge the gap between their current draft and a finished novel, which causes anxiety. Rather than letting this anxiety paralyze them, they respond by committing to write 500 words every day. This small, proactive step gradually brings them closer to their goal of becoming a published author.
(Shortform note: According to some psychologists, accepting and tolerating anxiety is a skill you can develop through practice. This approach, known as “sitting with discomfort,” involves allowing yourself to feel anxious without immediately trying to distract yourself or avoid the sensation. By doing so, you can begin to relate differently to your anxiety, recognizing that while unpleasant, these feelings aren’t dangerous and will eventually pass. This can lead to increased activation in the brain region responsible for suppressing impulsive reactions, enabling more rational decision-making in challenging situations.
Step 4: Change How You Relate to Others
Lastly, Emerald explains that to adopt a visionary mindset, you must stop viewing others as either oppressors or rescuers. Recall that this outlook makes others, not you, responsible for your life and well-being. To change this mindset, he recommends reframing the roles of oppressor and savior as catalysts and mentors.
1) Catalysts Instead of Oppressors
Emerald reframes the oppressor role as a catalyst for personal development. He encourages you to view difficult people as opportunities for growth, learning, and self-improvement, rather than as obstacles or threats. This reframing leaves your autonomy intact by casting you as responsible for how you respond to these challenges.
2) Mentors Instead of Saviors
Emerald replaces the savior with the mentor: supportive figures who empower people by recognizing their inherent capabilities. Unlike saviors who may inadvertently reinforce helplessness, mentors use questioning and active listening to help you tap into your own resources and creativity. This also reinforces your autonomy: By viewing those who help you as mentors, you maintain the power to grow and learn from their advice, while still being the one in control of your own life.
