To develop any kind of system, especially concerning mindset, it is important to start with basics. Though I’ve written about the 4 A’s in a previous blog post (Aloneness vs Loneliness), I’d like to go into some more detail here.

Mindset has to do with habits of the mind. Like everything else in life, ie: brushing your teeth, driving, it’s through habits, routines and rituals, practiced and repeated over time, that we can change or transform anything, including our mindset.

So, we must create new habits to develop new thinking; to change our beliefs and thought patterns to better and more closely and clearly align with WHO we authentically are, WHAT we were born to do and HOW we do it (taking action steps).

To begin this system or framework of mindset change, there is an outline to follow that is simple, efficient and practical. I say simple but, it’s not always easy. The practical or pragmatic part is that it gets you to the real you, so you don’t waste time feeling stuck, sad and suffering. You get to yourself more quickly (this is the efficient part) and onto your real, desired and dreamed-of path, whether personally or professionally.

 

The 4 A’s:

1)Awareness and/or self-awareness,

2)Acceptance and/or self-acceptance

3)Absorption, and

4)Action

 

Let’s go:

1)Self-awareness: You must start where you are and then, you just gotta do the ‘inner’ (introspection) and ‘outer’ work.

It’s vital that you get to know and align with who the true you is, what your dreams and desires are and what you were put here to be and do. You can accomplish this by yourself or with some help, support and encouragement (ie: therapist, mindset coach, etc.). This allows faster, more efficient and more smoothly attained results.

For introspection, it’s necessary to quiet your mind and body and to be aware of their connection so that you’re able to hear, see or feel your ‘inner voice,’ the one that is your authentic voice, not necessarily the voice of your society or culture or of others. Without looking inside, it’s not possible to connect to the real you. Your ‘outer’ you or persona (social masks), the you of everyday life can easily take over. You have to also learn to make some important connections: between your mind and body and between your conscious awareness and your deeper, stronger subconscious mind.

 

2)Self-acceptance: With introspection, you begin understanding your-self-----faults and all, flaws and all, and learn to accept these ’less-than-perfect’ or shadow sides and parts of you. For those who have experienced trauma of any kind or have lots of fears, accepting ‘all’ the sides of yourself, both the yin/yang (shadow/light side), can be challenging, scary, painful and even overwhelming.

It can be done, though. Please keep in mind (and heart) that you are human and that makes you imperfect. You are a ‘perfectly imperfect’ being. You are a unique flower, beautiful and perfect, and ready to blossom, just as you were made and how you are.

Once you’ve accepted the whole you, the parts you like and the parts you don’t, then it’s time for:

 

3)Absorption: This has to do with absorbing and expanding the beliefs and thoughts you want and not continuing to absorb the beliefs you don’t want, that are not yours and don’t serve you in a positive way. This Absorption is a process within a process (or framework).  This is what it entails:

A) Choose: You choose a desired, positive belief or thought that you want to include as part of your mind’s ‘new repertoire.’ Let’s say that you were often told in your formative years (0-7 years): ‘you are stupid.’ Now, you want to create a new neural pathway (and thought pattern) in your mind. Let’s say you use: ‘I am smart and capable.’ (NOTE: It can be difficult to make a choice with a history of trauma).

B) Repeat: You repeat this new, positive statement or affirmation, several times per day. It’s not enough to just say the words; you have to add emotion and energy, so that your automatic pilot, default subconscious mind will, eventually, start listening and believing you.

C) Expand: Now, it’s time to expand this statement or new belief, ‘I am smart and capable’ internally. Sit quietly and focus on the phrase/concept of ‘I am smart and capable.’ Be sure to use all your senses; what do you see (visualize), hear (auditory) or feel (kinesthetic) and be sure to let your creativity and imagination run wild. Once you see, hear or feel, then see it ‘expand’ in your mind. Continue using your 5 senses and let this idea/phrase grow bigger and keep expanding ‘I am smart and capable,’ in your mind for a few minutes.

D)Now, it’s time for the final step, which is ACTION. This is probably the most important step because without action and courage, all this information just stays as knowledge (and dreams). To put it out in the world and in your world, you must take action. The truth is that without action, your dreams are just fantasies. With action, one small step at a time, you start to live your dreams in your everyday reality. Woo-hoo! This is the grand prize!

 

I call this Absorption Process CREA, which stands for Choose, Repeat, Expand and Action but it’s not lost on me that if you switch the letters around, they spell: CARE. Since these small steps you take create big and remarkable results, you are really partaking in your ultimate self-care and this is a good thing! Self-care is a part of self-love and this, folks, is what it’s all about!

 

Like the final step in the CREA process, the final step of the 4 A’s Framework is also action. You can take a tiny step, a small one, a large one or a gigantic one, but just start by taking a step. The results you achieve will be surprising, empowering, encouraging, even mind-blowing and certainly, life and mindset changing.

These 4 steps of the 4 A’s Framework are the basics or an outline, and a necessary part of making changes: inner and outer, personal and professional, so that you can finally get un-stuck, diminish much of your stress, anxiety, sadness and suffering. Then, you are able and open to discover or re-discover the unique and authentic wonder that is you! And watch your beliefs, thought patterns (and the neural pathways in your brain) change, slowly but surely, over time (and lots of repetition). You will see your life positively transform, so that you begin to fulfill your potential and live YOUR definition and version of success, with health, happiness and peace, to live YOUR best life!

 

With smiles and love,

Dr Gigi

 

PS: If you want/need a guide for or help in and with this 4 A’s Framework or in your personal or professional life, I’d be honored and happy to be your ‘traveling buddy.’ You can connect with me @www.gigiarnaud or on the social media links below.