Recently, I found myself captivated by an older season of The Amazing Race. What struck me was that there was a team consistently winning first place that wasn’t nearly the physically strongest. I watched closely, trying to determine their “secret sauce” for success. I realized that they demonstrated remarkable mental strength. They didn’t turn on each other during tough times, nor did they waste energy on negativity. Instead, they focused their mental and emotional energy on problem-solving and moving forward.
This observation got me thinking about the importance of mental resilience, not just in competitive scenarios but in our everyday lives, especially as bookkeepers. Over the past few years, I’ve been consciously monitoring how I speak to myself. The words that follow “I am” are powerful identity statements. For example, saying “I am tired” versus “I feel tired” can shift our mindset significantly. The former is an identity statement, while the latter expresses a temporary feeling.
I’ve also been exploring the concept of energy, particularly how we interact with money and opportunities. Our thoughts and feelings can either attract or repel what we desire. For instance, many of us experience imposter syndrome, especially when pursuing new clients. We may verbally express our qualifications, but if we energetically resist the idea of being worthy, we sabotage our chances of success.
Consider the analogy from The Lion King. Simba believed he was responsible for his father’s death, leading him to abandon his role as king. However, his identity as king never changed. Similarly, your identity is perfect and unchangeable, regardless of your past actions or current feelings.
As you navigate your bookkeeping journey, I encourage you to separate your identity from your actions. Your worth is inherent and cannot be diminished by mistakes or setbacks. Embrace the idea that you are unique and valuable, and challenge any negative self-talk that arises.
Try this as an experiment: shift your self-talk to reflect your inherent worth. If you find it difficult, dig deeper into why you feel that way. Remember, your identity is not defined by your struggles; it is perfect and cannot be improved upon.
Let’s strive to create a supportive environment for ourselves and each other. If you’re willing to experiment with this mindset shift, I’d love to hear your experiences.
Until next time, I’m Lindsay Kline, host of the By the Books podcast and founder of Great Bookkeepers Wanted, empowering bookkeepers and the businesses that need them.
Watch the video on this topic on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/gfdCwNw9vAc
