The 7th Lifestyle Medicine Pillar?

Our 2024 winter enrollment is now closed, and we are excited to welcome an exceptional group of new degree students to our community.

In the coming weeks and months, we will focus on onboarding our new students and supporting all community members. Together, we’ll take it step by step—completing self-study course lessons, participating in live practicum classes, and mastering evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine and Root-Cause Health Coaching skills and techniques.

Today, I would like to discuss one of the if not the most important aspects of habit improvement.

I often wonder why our mindset isn’t recognized as the 7th Lifestyle Medicine Protocol, given its vital role in habit change.

Mindset is the set of attitudes and beliefs that shape how individuals perceive and respond to challenges, opportunities, and experiences. A growth mindset focuses on learning, adaptability, and improvement, while a fixed mindset assumes abilities are static. Cultivating a growth mindset fosters resilience, motivation, and long-term success in personal and professional endeavors.

A growth mindset helps us view challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles, enhancing motivation and persistence.

A flexible mindset supports adapting to life’s changes while maintaining goals, and self-efficacy — confidence in one’s ability — drives progress and commitment. Continuous improvement and learning from mistakes sustain long-term habits.

A positive mindset also aids emotional regulation, reducing stress-related setbacks — turning challenges into opportunities, and empowering lasting transformation. Healthcare providers can support this by encouraging a positive, growth-oriented approach.

In Lifestyle Medicine, cultivating a growth mindset focused on resilience and adaptability is key to achieving sustainable health improvements and empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being.

Your mindset determines your actions.

Here are three micro-habits you can practice right away to improve your core mindset:

• Be present and consciously savor every moment.
• Keep a journal to explore unresolved emotions, limiting beliefs, and unhealthy habits.
• Continuously seek new ways to feel, think, and act positively.

With gratitude, 🙏🏼

Johannes