The Big Shift - Fixed Mindset to Growth Mindset
Feb 07, 2024
"Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom." - William Jordan
My (almost) 8-year-old has the tendency to go sideways when he is working on something that doesn’t go perfectly as planned.
In the spirit of transparency, I can relate. You probably can, too.
Being able to let things roll off my shoulders was not always (and still isn't always) an easy skill for me. As a recovering perfectionist, I can vividly remember a few moments when I let my frustration get the best of me, and I threw my hands in the air with a defeatist attitude.
(Sadie Hawkins 1992 in the parking lot of Chili’s. Ring a bell, mom?)
Looking back on those moments, I now realize how necessary those moments were for personal growth.
Here’s the thing…
In my (almost) 8-year-old's world, his abilities and intelligence are fixed. He reacts to adversity in a way that suggests he believes there is nothing he can do to change the outcome when it is not going his way. Let me start by saying that this is NORMAL for young children. If you exited the womb and entered into this world with a growth mindset, you are one blessed human being. That said, it takes many of us YEARS to move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
Let me, first, explain the difference between the two.
In simple terms...
A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve your abilities and intelligence through hard work, practice, and dedication.
In contrast...
A fixed mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence are static and unchangeable.
Why is it so important to have a growth mindset?
A growth mindset can help you in multiple ways. You can develop new skills, enhance your knowledge, and become a better version of yourself. Additionally, you will be able to face challenges with a positive attitude and embrace failures as opportunities for learning.
"In a growth mindset, your flaws are just a to-do list of things to improve." - Derek Sivers
Here are 5 Tips To Develop A Growth Mindset:
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Embrace challenges. Instead of running away from challenges, take them as opportunities for growth. Whenever you face a difficult task, don't give up quickly. Instead, put in more effort/practice and seek help, if required.
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Learn from your failures. Failures are inevitable. How you react to them can make all the difference. Instead of blaming yourself or others, try to understand what went wrong and what you can learn from it. It will help you to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
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Adopt a positive attitude. Your attitude plays a significant role in shaping your mindset. Try to focus on the positives and look for the silver lining in every situation. Positive self-talk can also help you to build confidence and self-esteem.
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Seek feedback. Feedback can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and improve upon them. Don't be afraid of criticism/feedback, as it can help you to grow and learn.
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Set realistic goals. Setting goals can help you to stay focused and motivated. However, make sure that your goals are realistic and achievable. Otherwise, it can lead to frustration and disappointment which defeats the purpose.
Remember, it's not about being perfect or achieving everything (says the recovering perfectionist herself), but about the journey of self-improvement and growth.
Embrace the process and enjoy the journey.
In pursuit of a growth mindset,
Erin