10 Fresh Mindset Habits to Encourage Yourself and Live with Passion

Do you cheer yourself on or wait for others to motivate you?

Everyone like praise and encouragement. It’s human nature.

We all wish someone would notice how hard we’re trying and the effort we have put in. A little praise, a kind word, and some moral support to let us know we are on the right path, or we have accomplished something.

But the truth is, you might be waiting a long time. There isn’t a chorus of people ready to sing your praises. Everyone is busy living their own lives, so their focus isn’t on you.

I’m sorry to tell you, but if you want praise and a good old pat on the back, it has to come from yourself first and foremost. You have to be your own source of encouragement.

You don’t have to wait for someone to hand you a trophy, a pep talk or a gold star.

The good news is that you’ve got your own back and have the power to encourage yourself. You can be your own hype person, support crew, and comeback story rolled into one.

Encouragement doesn’t need to be loud or dramatic. It just needs to be real, honest and purely genuine. It’s the quiet belief that lets you know you're doing fine, even on the hard days or when doubt creeps in. It’s that little nudge saying you're on the right path.

Remember, you are living your life for you, not for others, so it should be yourself that is your compass.

These 10 fresh mindset habits will help you build that belief day by day, thought by thought.

These habits are tiny but mighty. They remind you that encouragement isn’t something you beg for, it’s something you build. So, speak kindly to yourself. Move bravely. Stay grounded. And keep going. You’re doing better than you think.

1. Trust your gut—it’s wiser than you think

There is no better tool for discerning right from wrong than your own gut. That weird little feeling you get? That’s your intuition, and it’s often smarter than your overthinking brain. It isn’t trying to analyze everything from 20 different angles, it is just giving you a straight-up up no-nonsense answer.

Your instincts are shaped by your values, experiences and truth. The more you listen, the more confident and encouraged you’ll feel in your choices.

Next time you’re stuck on a decision, stop. Breathe. Ask yourself if it feels right and go with it, even if it’s not the most logical answer. Don’t waste precious time analyzing everything or trying to think up all possibilities and subsequent responses, as that is simply wasting time. To be honest, when issues arise, you have the power to deal with them then. Don’t get in the habit of talking yourself out of action before you even take the first step.

2. Believe in your strengths—even when you don’t feel strong

Every single person on this earth has something to contribute. Some special characteristic. No one is completely useless or worthless, even though we have days where we host our own pity party and try to convince ourselves to the contrary. You have strengths. Yes, you. Even if you can’t always see them. You just have to believe.

Maybe you’re a great listener. Maybe you’re calm in a crisis. Maybe you just keep showing up with nothing but grit and determination. A true battler.

Make a list of your wins, your qualities, and your special traits. Keep it where you can see it. Remind yourself that you have faced and done hard things before, and regardless of any obstacle that comes your way, you have the skills, passion, and determination to overcome it.

That’s not ego. That’s evidence.

3. Act like someone who believes in themselves

Fake it until you make it. We have all heard that expression. Well, it actually has some merit to it. Now I’m not saying to bullshit your way through life, but at times we need to give the impression we are in control, when deep down we may feel the opposite. Perception is powerful. So, if you want to feel more confident, start acting like someone who already is.

It isn’t just showing belief; it is also activating with belief and confidence. Speak up. Try the new thing. Ask for what you need. Take the first step. Start your passion. Walk into the room like you belong and have something worthwhile to contribute.

When your actions match the version of you that’s thriving, your mindset eventually catches up. Start with the moves, even if the belief takes a minute.

4. Let inspiration move you

Inspiration is so powerful and often comes from the most unexpected places or times. It doesn’t matter when it shows up in your day; the important thing is to harness it and make the most of it, extracting the positivity and motivation from it.

Maybe you read a quote that gives you chills, watch a TED Talk that makes you tear up, hear a song that inspires you, or hit a nerve that makes you want to take action. Embrace it.

Don’t let that moment pass. Let it shift something. Let it guide your next step, even if it’s small.

Each of us is different, but I am never too far away from a notepad, and as soon as inspiration hits, I write it down. It may be in rough format, and may only be words, but it allows me time to think it through, revisit it, polish it and work out how I can use it for the greatest possible impact.

Inspiration fades fast if we don’t act on it. Don't let it simply pass by or go to waste. Follow that spark. Let it light up a little corner of your day.

5. Tolerate setbacks—they might be trying to help you

Shit happens. Things go off course. People let us down. That's life, and we have to accept that not everything will go to plan. Setbacks suck, and as much as we want to moan about them, they aren’t going to simply disappear with a wave of a magical wand. Let’s not pretend otherwise. But sometimes they’re just life’s way of saying it’s the wrong door or path, and we must try the next one.

When things don’t go your way, which they will, instead of complaining, flip the script and ask yourself what it is teaching you, what you can learn from it, and a better course of action to take.

Maybe it’s resilience. Maybe it’s redirection. Maybe it’s that you were aiming too small.

Setbacks can either shrink you or shape you. You choose which.

6. Learn from your mistakes without crushing your spirit

No one is perfect. You’re going to mess up. You’re human. That’s not the problem.

The problem is when we make it personal and kick ourselves. We tell ourselves that we are failures, we are stupid or actually unworthy of success. What the fuck is that going to achieve?

Instead, accept it for what it is. A simple mistake. You tried the best you could with the information or skills that you had, and that’s it. You just did a thing that didn’t work out. That’s it. At least you gave it a crack. Brush yourself off and try again. Get back on that horse, figuratively speaking.

Get curious and explore what went wrong and what you can try to improve the situation next time. Then apply the lesson and keep going.

Kindness + accountability = growth.

7. Simplify your life so your inner voice gets louder

Remember that you live your own life, and you get to decide what has meaning and merit for you. But how often do we instead listen and give value to the commentary that is constantly seeping into our ears and eyes, from people who know nothing about us? Noise is everywhere, in notifications, obligations, and endless mental chatter. And it drowns out your most important voice: your own.

Sure, it’s good to get perspective from others, but we still need to remember whose voice and opinion matter the most. It’s yours.

Try simplifying. Clear your space. Say no to the unnecessary. Log off. Declutter your schedule.

Take time to listen solely to your own voice. Find a quiet, calm moment and write down what is important to you. Focus on you.

A calmer life creates space for clarity. When it’s quiet, you’ll hear yourself think and encourage yourself from the inside out.

8. Appreciate what’s already working

It’s so easy to focus on what you don’t have yet, to kick yourself for not moving quicker, achieving more, or doing things the best way possible. People's competitive spirit leads them to concentrate on what they could have done better or what still lies on their path. This mindset causes frustration and anxiety and reduces self-worth.

Why can't we take the time to appreciate the good we have achieved? Is it that hard to give ourselves praise?

Real encouragement starts with recognizing what’s already good. There are so many things that you have done well, but we often take these for granted and focus on the negative instead. We become our own harshest critic. Let’s instead be our own best source of support.

Take the time to appreciate what you have done well, what you have overcome or the progress you are making.

As a writer, I often kick myself for not generating enough book sales, making ineffective campaigns, or getting enough subscriptions, and I lose sight of the bigger and more important picture.

I am getting to live my passion, writing, and I am learning something every day. I’m not going to top the writing charts, but I find the process, not the outcomes, rewarding.

Each night, jot down three things that you can appreciate about yourself and that make your day better. Gratitude isn’t just a good feeling; it rewires your brain to spot positivity. And that is what life is about: moving forward with purpose, passion and positivity.

And that changes everything.

9. Stop comparing—run your own race

I’ll say it louder for the people in the back: you’ve got your own damn life to live, so live it in a way that actually lights you up.

Scrolling Instagram, watching others win awards, land dream jobs, or pose in Bali isn’t inspiring; it’s simply fucking exhausting. Before you know it, you're knee-deep in comparison hell, feeling like you're behind, not enough, or just stuck. And honestly? That mindset is complete crap.

Everyone is doing the best they can with what they’ve got. Their path is theirs. Yours is yours. Full stop.

You’re not late. You’re not off-track. You’re not failing. You’re simply living your story, chapter by chapter, and it’s unfolding exactly how it’s meant to. Yes, there will be hurdles along the way, but you will overcome them. I guarantee you that others face the same hurdles, but they conveniently leave these out of their narratives.

Comparison? What do you actually get out of it? It’s a joy thief. A confidence killer. A total buzzkill. Ditch it. Instead, measure backwards. Look at where you started. Look at what you’ve overcome. Look at how far you’ve come.

That’s your proof. That’s your progress.

So, honor your pace, trust your path, and keep moving forward the best way you can—imperfectly, unapologetically, brilliantly forward—and remember to encourage yourself along the way.

10. Cultivate your passions—they’re oxygen for your soul.

Everyone needs passion in their life. Imagine how sad life is, it's a constant grey boring sky with nothing but burns your internal fire.

Passions are the parts of you that exist beyond the to-do list, the job title, the dinner dishes. They’re how you remember you’re more than just getting through the day. It is what makes you feel alive and inspires you the most.

Whatever your passion is, just do the thing. Not because it’s productive. Not because someone will clap. Most people may never see your passion, and that is fine. It’s not for them. It’s for you. So have a go at your passion. It doesn’t matter if it seems silly to others or doesn’t bring any financial reward. Do it because it makes you feel alive and keeps you growing.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours. And when you give your passions a little room to breathe, everything else feels lighter, brighter, and way more worth showing up for.