Adopt a Change Mindset to Unlock Your Potential

In my first year as a commodities trader, I was convinced I couldn’t crack options spreads. Every lesson felt like trying to read hieroglyphs. My internal voice whispered, “You’re out of your league.” One afternoon, after a particularly crushing day, I scribbled that exact phrase on a scrap of paper. Then I scribbled three alternatives: “I can learn,” “I can practice,” and “I can ask for mentorship.”

I taped “I can learn” to my desk. The next time I sat down with complex charts, I pointed at that sticky note like a coach’s deck. Gradually, the dread in my gut turned to curiosity. I started reaching out to senior traders, asking how they unraveled each skew. Each new tip felt like a lifeline. Within months, I was executing spreads with confidence.

Changing my core belief rewired my brain. Neuroscience tells us that when we replace a limiting thought with a growth thought, we lay down fresh neural pathways and prune the old ones. Now, every time I face a steep climb—at work or at home—I look at that note and remember that my potential was always waiting on the other side of belief.

Start by pinpointing the limiting belief that trips you up—write it boldly on a sticky. Jot down two or three opposite beliefs and choose the one that energizes you most. Stick it where you’ll see it often, and each time stress strikes, glance at it and sense the shift in your inner voice. With every repetition, you’ll be training your brain to default to possibility instead of doubt. Try it tonight.