Are you aware of your Mental Blueprints?

Is it true that we become what we think?

Most people spend their lives trying to change their actions, thinking that if they can just get it right, they'll become who they want to be. We hope that a tweak in our behavior will lead to transformation, but behavior is only on the surface, while identity is deeper, and identity is not built by what you do occasionally; it's shaped by what you think about consistently. We don't become what we do occasionally; we become what we think about constantly. Those quiet conversations you have with yourself when no one's watching, filled with doubt, hope, regret, or purpose—these are called mental blueprints. 

How does this process work?

Don't underestimate the power of your thoughts. If you tell yourself you're not good enough, that becomes your truth; if you tell yourself you have potential, that belief starts to build a path forward. We refer to this process as "wiring"; the brain becomes receptive to the narrative you constantly tell yourself, leading to eventual compliance. If you think like a loser, you will become a loser; if you think like a winner, you will become a winner; if you don’t think you are talented enough, you will not succeed. Depending on your way of thinking, you might start to be your worst enemy.

Here is an example.

Imagine a pilot or a cabin crew member who tells themselves every day, "I don't have what's necessary to be a leader." They might have ideas, they might even have passion, but they second-guess, they defer, and they hold back. Why? Not because they can't lead, but because their thoughts won't let them, they're imprisoned by a story they wrote a long time ago and forgot to question, so their behaviors follow that narrative; they act small because they think small. " Now imagine another pilot or a cabin crew member who tells themselves, "I'm still learning, but I have what it takes to lead." That aviation professional will act differently; they'll ask better questions, they'll raise their hand more often, and they will take small risks. Why? Because they believe in the possibility of growth, they're not faking confidence; they're practicing belief, and that belief reshapes their identity.

What is our identity?

Over time, we tend to think our identity is something we find, like it's hidden under a rock or locked inside a vault, but it's not our identity. Identity is something we build moment by moment, thought by thought. You become a leader, artist, or innovator by thinking like one long before you have proof. But here's a trap: we often think more about our fears than our goals. You become a person who avoids things, which is a unique life, when you think about fear too much. Our brains are like soil; whatever seed you plant—fear, gratitude, negativity, anger, or hope—will grow if you water it. Let go of the fear of failure, as your past errors and mistakes are the foundation of your success. Give up on what other people might think; just concentrate on your goals.

The question isn't whether your thoughts shape you, but what kind of person they make you.

I once spoke to a young cabin crew member who told me she wanted to do better on passenger address announcements, but she said, "I'm not naturally confident." I asked her, "How often do you tell yourself that?" She paused. "All the time," she admitted, and I told her, "That's your biggest barrier, not the skill of speaking, not the fear of the stage, but the idea you've accepted about who you are." Because you cannot build a new life on top of an old mindset, there are no neutral thoughts; every thought is either building your identity or breaking it down. You might not notice the shift day by day, but over months and years it becomes undeniable. Think of it like a compass: if you're off by just one degree, you might not notice it today, but walk far enough and you'll be miles from where you wanted to go. Your thoughts are that one degree slight subtle, but deeply consequential, and this isn't about positive thinking, it's not about mantras and pretending everything's fine, it's about truthful thinking, it’s about choosing to focus your thoughts on what is possible, what is purposeful, and what is aligned with the person you want to become, even when reality hasn't caught up yet, this is why vision matters because vision is the future you begin rehearsing in your mind before the world ever sees it, and every time you imagine that future every time you mentally walk into it you lay another brick in the foundation of your identity, you start to think like the person who belongs in that vision and thinking like that person eventually leads you to act like them, so if you don't like who you're becoming, don't start with your actions, start with your thoughts Ask yourself what story I am rehearsing every day, what beliefs I have accepted without question, and what kind of person I would be if I thought differently. 

So when we change our thoughts, we change our identity?

Yes, when we change our identity, our actions follow naturally; there is no need to force them or fake them; they simply become part of who we are. You finish, show up, and lead not by following a checklist, but by rewiring your brain. You changed the script in your head, and the rest of your life began to follow the new narrative. Your journey starts with your thoughts, as they shape who you will become; therefore, the question is straightforward: who are you becoming? And an even better question: what are you thinking about?

What is the difference between wishing for something and believing in it?

Wishing is passive; it floats in your mind like a lovely idea, but it doesn't carry weight, and it doesn't create change. Belief is active; it has gravity, draws your focus, and slowly reshapes your actions to align with it. And when that belief is focused, not scattered, not vague, but intentional, it becomes a force that turns thought into reality. Most people don't fail because they lack ability; they fail because they never fully commit to a belief. They progress halfway towards a goal, maintaining a cautious approach, persuading themselves that it's safer not to fully commit. Despite their attempts, they lack a deep-seated belief in them. They hope that their efforts will succeed, but hope without belief is weak; it wavers and retreats at the first sign of resistance, while belief remains steadfast. Belief says, "This matters; this is real to me, even if no one else sees it yet." Moreover, focused belief goes even further; it asserts, "This is what I believe and why I believe it, and I am willing to align my life around it."

Why is it more important to believe than to wish?

The truth is, your beliefs consistently influence your behavior, even when you're not aware of it. If you believe you're unworthy of success, you'll sabotage opportunity; if you believe you're always behind, you’ll chase things that don't actually matter; if you believe the world is against you, you'll start looking for proof that you're right, and you'll find it; but if you believe you are capable of learning, you'll face hard things with curiosity instead of fear; if you believe you bring value, you'll stop begging for permission to speak; if you believe your vision matters, you'll keep building it even when no one claps. Focused belief doesn't just help you endure; it helps you choose what's worth enduring. When you think belief is the center of gravity that shapes every decision you see, you don't feel it when things are going well, and you hold on to it before anything has worked, before there's proof, before the doors open, before the results arrive; it's the voice that says, "Even if no one else sees it, I do." This type of belief doesn't require praise; it simply requires clarity. It's ironic that most people assume they will believe in themselves once they achieve success, but it's actually the opposite—you succeed because you first believe. Belief creates alignment; it turns scattered energy into focused movement. When you believe in a mission, your habits start shifting, you stop wasting time trying to please everyone, you start saying no to distractions, and you begin measuring your day, not by how much you did, but by how close you moved toward what matters.

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External References

Books

1. Mindset - Carol S. Dweck

2. Rewire - Richard O'Connor

3. Atomic Habits- James Clear

4. The Chimp Paradox - Steve Peters

5. Seeking Wisdom - Peter Bevelin