The Mindset Tree
Several years ago, I was having lunch with a friend as we caught up on each other’s lives. In the midst of our conversation, I heard myself say, “My life is a struggle.”
I was shocked that those words even came out of my mouth! It caught me so off guard that I didn’t know what else to say. Later, as I reflected on it, the scripture from Luke 6:45 came to mind: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” I realized I had been holding onto a belief that life would always be difficult for me. And that belief had to go!
As I prayed about this over the next few weeks, God gave me a vision. I saw a beautiful, strong tree, full of fruit. In that moment, I instantly understood: mindset is one of the most important things that shapes who we are. In fact, our mindset can be the deciding factor in whether we succeed or continue to experience disappointment in life.
So, what is mindset? In a nutshell, it’s the collection of thoughts and beliefs that determine how we view life and how we move through it. It drives our actions and ultimately shapes the results we experience.
In the vision, the roots of the tree represented our beliefs. Just like a tree’s roots are buried deep underground and provide its foundation, our beliefs are deeply ingrained and form the basis of how we see God, ourselves, and others.
The trunk of the tree represented our thoughts. The trunk’s job is crucial—it carries water and nutrients from the roots to the branches. Much of this activity is hidden, but it sustains the life of the tree. In the same way, our thoughts flow from our beliefs, often unnoticed, but incredibly powerful.
For example, if we think, “I’ll never lose this weight,” it’s likely because we don’t truly believe what Philippians 4:13 says: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” When we challenge ourselves to believe correctly, our thinking begins to change too.
Next come the branches, which reflect our actions. They’re the visible, outward part of the tree—just like our behaviors. Everyone around us can see them.
Our actions always align with our thoughts and beliefs. If we’re filled with fear, worry, anger, or stress, our choices and behavior will reflect that. But when our beliefs and thoughts are aligned with God’s Word, we’re empowered to act with peace, confidence, goodness, and joy.
Finally, the fruit of the tree represents the results we see in our lives. That fruit is completely determined by what we believe, how we think and feel, and how we choose to act in the world. So—what kind of fruit are you seeing in your life? I encourage you to take an honest look at what you believe—about yourself, your relationship with God, and about others. Then, dive into the Word of God to discover what He says. Because when you align your beliefs, thoughts, and emotions with God’s truth, you’ll begin to see beautiful fruit being effortlessly produced in your life.
