Mindset, as defined by Webster dictionary, is:
1 – a mental attitude or inclination
2- a fixed state of mind
Wikipedia defines it as “a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods, or notions held by one or more people or groups of people.”
Fundamentally, researchers, coaches, and doctors have asserted there are two main categories of mindset, the fixed mindset, and the growth mindset. People with a “fixed” mindset believe that we are born, or innately “have” certain skills or talents. Also, they interpret failure as a lack of those skills or abilities. Alternatively, people with a “growth” mindset believe they can acquire any skill or talent as long as they are willing to spend the time or effort into attaining it.
The real power in the growth mindset resides in how they view failure. Where a fixed mind might have felt extreme disappointment as a result of failing to achieve a goal, possibly blaming it on lack of innate ability, a growth centered mind would simply see it as an opportunity to further study and develop the skills.
During an interview in 2012, American psychologist and professor, Dr. Carol Dweck defined both fixed and growth mindsets:
“In a fixed mindset, students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. In a growth mindset, students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.”
Why is it important to know the difference? It’s important because you need to know how your brain is processing. Is it holding you back because it isn’t flexible enough to believe you can grow, change, reach the goals you are trying to set for yourself?
Can your mind simply not conceive that failure can actually make you more skilled, capable, valued, stronger? Let’s apply this to everyday life, to strive for your goals, and to staying on track.
To do something you have never done before, you have to think like you never have before. You have to change your mindset. You have to believe that growth comes THROUGH failure, and you have to be willing to challenge yourself and your beliefs. Realizing extraordinary success comes through extraordinary effort and challenge frees you to learn and evolve. With this mindset, you KNOW there are going to be times when it doesn’t all go to plan, when it doesn’t work out, and when you have to start again a different way.
Living in the growth mindset means that instead of feeling defeated and unworthy when you fail, you feel inspired to keep learning, keep growing and keep pushing forward because eventually, you will get it just right!
