When talking about real estate we tend to start with finances. However; I find it necessary to go back to basics and understand how you got to your particular real estate journey. Our decisions to act or not, the way we carry out certain tasks and the way we ultimately live life are based on our mindset. Recognizing the way we think and act towards certain ideas and situations is a good place to start when thinking about high value commitments like real estate. This recognition allows us to understand how much of the process we are familiar with, and what concepts or parts of the process we will have to adjust to. Over the years, generally and as a real estate agent, I have found that our mindsets are formed by three major things; nature, nurture, and experience.
Our natural instincts, beliefs and feelings can mould our attitudes. One definition that the Oxford Dictionary gives for nature is “the basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something”. Sometimes people will make statements to me like; “I feel more inclined to take risks by investing, although it goes against the safeguards that I was taught. I find this to be a push from within that tells them they are more of a risk taker, and are going against what has been established to be the norm in their circle of influence. This is not a usual case however, because most times what comes natural to us can be drowned out by nurture and experience. We must always remember to take time to hear ourselves and question if we are just going along with what is ‘’normal” because it is what was taught.
Another thing that aids in development of our mindsets is the way we are nurtured. From the beginning of our lives, sometimes before we are born, there are set ways of doing things within our families and cultures. Sometimes these nurtured mindset builders can be taught intentionally or caught subconsciously. For example, I’ve had clients who have never thought about purchasing an investment residential property because all they’ve seen throughout life were family members purchasing single family homes. They were of the mindset that that was the easiest and best route to take. The way we are nurtured highly influences our views of and attitudes toward many areas of life because our morals and what we value are mostly attached to the belief of our parents and others who were responsible for us when we were younger. Embracing the way we have been nurtured can be positive, but we must be able to adjust if it is not.
Finally, experience also plays a major role in the building of our mindsets. Our own experiences give us instant impressions. For example; I have had clients who have attempted to purchase real estate before and the process was either not an easy one, or did not produce positive results. They had developed an attitude towards real estate that was not the most positive. While our own experiences teach us a lot, we are also influenced by the experiences of others. I find that this is where the ideas of mentors, coaches and tribes fit in. In today’s society, we don’t even have to know a person for their experiences to influence our mindset. I personally am a part of many platforms and groups that have positively impacted my attitude towards and the way I think about various things. Shaping your mindset from experiences whether they are yours or others, must be done wisely.
It is important for us to value our inherent thoughts, what we are taught, our experiences and those of others. A mixture of these influences will make up our overall mindset. It is vital that we also acknowledge whether their impact is negative or positive. Most importantly, we must stay open to be able to adjust our mindset and understand the differences between us.
When it comes to real estate your mindset can affect the way you engage the process and the choices you make. I am here to show you more about the process and talk to you about your options. Follow me on Facebook by clicking here.
Here are your Real Keys:
- Be mindful of the thoughts and behaviours that come natural to you
- Embrace the way you were nurtured but be open to adjust when necessary
- Use your experience and those of others to help shape your mindset, but do it wisely
- Remain adaptable
