Episode 76 - How to be more carefree: both in general + when going for huge goals

June 20, 2024 Hayley Carr

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When you’re going for big dreams, it can be hard to not feel completely crushed when things don’t go according to plan. How can you be more carefree when things shift and change, instead of it feeling like the end of the world? This idea of being more carefree is something that I’ve been speaking about with a number of my clients recently and it just so happens to be a listener question as well.

Before launching into any tips and strategies, I feel like an important aspect of this discussion is to clarify what being carefree means. To me, it’s about being present, enjoying the process, and not overly stressing about the outcome.

This mindset is crucial for high performance and your overall sense of well-being, no matter what the thing is that you’re pursuing.

The pressure I felt to maintain success after winning a world competition in martial arts was huge. But, it taught me a valuable lesson: When we're too focused on the result, the journey becomes unenjoyable and stressful.

How to Be More Carefree: Ten Practical Tips

1. Love on Yourself Really Hard

Practice self-compassion, self-love, and positive self-talk. Being kind to yourself during setbacks is crucial for maintaining a healthy mindset.

2. Shift Your Perspective

Question your beliefs about your challenges. Is it the ultimate truth? Often, a change in perspective can make obstacles seem much more manageable.

3. Develop and Keep a Growth Mindset

See every experience as a learning opportunity. Celebrate your efforts and progress, and never compare yourself to others—only to your past self.

4. Stay Present

Focus on the now. Worrying about the future or dwelling on the past takes you out of the present moment where life actually happens.

5. Pace Yourself

Set realistic milestones. Although it might seem counterintuitive when you’re aiming high, lowering your expectations in the short term can help you achieve great things over time without overwhelming yourself.

6. Build Resilience

Develop coping mechanisms for stress and have a comeback strategy for when things go off track. This helps you recover quickly and keep moving forward.

7. Practice Gratitude

Focus on what's working rather than what's not. Cultivating gratitude will keep you motivated and positive and is generally an amazing practise to have in your everyday life.

8. Visualise Your Success

Your brain can’t tell the difference between imagining something and it actually happening. Visualise your goals as if they've already happened to build the neural pathways for success.

9. Pleasure Over Pressure

Pursue activities that bring you joy. Finding pleasure in the journey decreases the pressure on achieving the end result. Again this one might seem counterintuitive but as you do things that light you up, you’ll naturally lean into success and joy in other areas of your life, including those big goals.

Embracing a carefree attitude doesn’t mean you don’t care—it means you’re more focused on the present moment than on a specific outcome. The ironic thing is that this mindset can make you more attractive to achieving your goals because you're not weighed down by desperation or stress.

I’d love to hear which of these tips resonates with you the most. Remember, everything you want is closer than you think. Stay curious and stay open.

HAYLEY CARR