New research teaches us how to become brilliant managers of our own minds.
A winning freelance career starts with a winning mindset — and psychology shows that this mindset can be trained, strengthened, and improved over time.
Success as a freelancer or Xolopreneur requires resilience, creativity, adaptability, and the mental clarity to make good decisions even during uncertainty. Fortunately, research shows that high-performing mindsets aren’t innate gifts — they’re built through consistent habits, self-reflection, and intentional mental conditioning.
New findings from psychological science reveal two powerful mindset shifts freelancers can adopt to boost creativity, make better decisions, and set more aligned goals.
Quick Takeaway
- Creativity is a learnable skill, not a talent you’re born with.
- Most people hold false beliefs about how creativity works.
- Mindfulness helps freelancers set goals that match their values.
- A “mindfully ambitious” mindset leads to stronger motivation and results.
The Biggest Myths About Creativity (According to Research)
Creativity is an essential part of business and entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, far too few of us feel truly confident in our creative abilities.
It’s likely that this belief stems from a lack of understanding of creativity rather than from any actual deficiencies in creative potential. Remember, just like our mindset can be improved through experience, discipline, self-reflection, and a willingness to improve — so too can our creativity.
In fact, a recent article published in the academic journal Personality and Individual Differences exposed some of the myths about creativity that many people mistakenly believe are true. For instance, a significant percentage of people falsely believe:
- Creative accomplishments are usually the result of a sudden inspiration. (They aren’t.)
- Creativity is a rare gift. (It isn’t.)
- People have a certain amount of creativity and cannot do much to change it. (Not true.)
- People get more creative ideas under the influence of marijuana or alcohol. (They don’t.)
- One is most creative with total freedom in one’s actions. (Not true.)
- Brainstorming in a group generates more ideas than if people were thinking by themselves. (Not always.)
“A naive conceptualization of creativity is problematic for two reasons,” say the authors of this research, led by Mathias Benedek of the University of Graz in Austria. “First, relating creativity to chance implies low appreciation for the hard work behind creative achievements. Second, it externalizes relevant factors in the development of creativity. Emphasizing the role of inspiration rather than active engagement may undermine creativity by suggesting we need to wait until creativity hits us with a ‘Eureka’-experience.”
In other words, creativity is best fostered through traits and behaviors that aren’t necessarily associated with popular conceptions of creativity, such as diligence, perseverance, and careful study. Shifting your mindset to view creativity more like a skill to be developed may lead you to new and profitable creative breakthroughs in your business this year. This is especially pertinent for female entrepreneurs, as other research shows that women are more likely to second guess their creative potential than men.
💡 See how self-criticism blocks creativity and how to fix it
Why Mindfulness Improves Goal-Setting and Focus
Mindfulness, or the ability to exist in the present moment in a sustained and non-judgmental way, has been shown to have numerous psychological benefits. For instance, individuals high in the trait of mindfulness exhibit reduced stress levels, have better focus, and are less emotionally reactive.
And, new research published in the Journal of Research in Personality suggests that mindful individuals are better at setting goals than others — something that can be highly advantageous in a business setting.
“When people pursue goals that are aligned with their underlying values, talents, interests, and needs (i.e., self-concordant goals), they are more likely to attain their goals,” say the authors of the research, led by Aidan Smyth of Carleton University in Canada. “Pursuing and attaining self-concordant goals affords experiences of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are essential to well-being. Conversely, pursuing non-concordant goals can lead people to waste time and energy on goals that, even if attained, will not benefit their well-being or development.”
If you’re ever concerned about whether you’re setting the right goals for yourself or your business, here’s a research-backed exercise that can help. Rate how well each of the following five reasons explains why you want to achieve the goal(s) you have in mind:
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Because somebody else wants me to, or because I’ll get something from someone if I do
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Because I would feel ashamed if I didn’t
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Because I really believe it is an important goal to have
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Because of the fun and enjoyment which the goal will provide me
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Because it represents who I am and reflects what I value most in life
If you gave more weight to reasons 3-5, it’s likely that you’re on the right track, as these questions imply that you are intrinsically motivated to attain your goal(s). Alternatively, if you rated reasons 1 and 2 higher, you may want to revisit your thinking and perhaps try approaching goal-setting from a more mindful perspective. Therapy can be helpful in increasing the amount of mindfulness you allow into your daily thinking.
What “Mindfully Ambitious” Really Means for Freelancers
It’s also important not to confuse the art of mindfulness with a disinterest in achieving great things. Other research shows that ambition and mindfulness often go hand in hand. Why? According to the research, ambitious individuals have learned how to effectively balance their attention and awareness to achieve their goals. In other words, the mental focus necessary to be an ambitious person translates into many of the same qualities associated with mindfulness. Moreover, the researchers take an unabashedly positive view of ambition. They state, “Behaviors relevant to both ambition and mindfulness are often described positively — being ‘in the zone,’ ‘Zen-like,’ and generally being both attentive and aware.”
This means that it is possible to be mindful and ambitious at the same time and that possessing a “mindfully ambitious” mindset can lead you to optimal goal-setting for yourself and for your business.
💡 Overcome impostor syndrome to strengthen your mindset
Final thoughts
A winning mindset isn’t something freelancers are born with — it’s something they build. By letting go of creativity myths and embracing a mindful, values-aligned approach to goals, you can unlock higher productivity, greater confidence, and clearer direction in your freelance career. Mindset mastery happens gradually, through experience, self-reflection, ambition, and a willingness to improve.
Build a mindset—and a business—that supports your best work.
Xolo gives freelancers the tools and freedom to grow with confidence and clarity.
About Mark
Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American Psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Xolo helps him run his online therapy practice, www.awake-therapy.me, from whatever part of the world he is currently living in.
FAQ: Building a Winning Freelance Mindset
Q1: Can creativity really be improved?
Yes. Research shows creativity grows through practice, discipline, exposure to new ideas, and persistent engagement with your craft.
Q2: What is a “mindfully ambitious” mindset?
It’s the combination of ambition (drive, goals, motivation) and mindfulness (focus, clarity, emotional regulation), which leads to optimal performance.
Q3: How does mindfulness help freelancers?
Mindfulness reduces stress, improves focus, enhances decision-making, and helps freelancers set goals aligned with their identity and values.
Q4: Are winning entrepreneurial mindsets innate?
No. They develop gradually through experience, reflection, mindset training, and consistent effort.
Q5: How can freelancers set better goals?
Ask whether your goals reflect your values, bring enjoyment, support autonomy, and align with who you want to become—not just external expectations.