Growth vs. fixed mindset is a theory by Carol Dweck. She is a scholar of human motivation. Essentially, she says humans have two mindsets they navigate life with: growth and fixed.
The Two Mindsets: Growth vs. Fixed
Fixed Mindset
People with fixed mindsets believe that your intellectual abilities are fixed.
They see talent as something born and which can’t be changed.
They see effort as a negative thing and something you do when you are not that good. Often they approach learning and intelligence with the goal to look smart.
They get discouraged by making mistakes and avoid them. They think making mistakes means they don’t have high ability.
When given feedback, they take it personally and get defensive. They ignore useful criticism.
Growth Mindset
People with a growth mindset believe that they have the capacity to learn and grow their skills.
They develop it by effort and dedication. The effort they put in propels their learning. They also understand that effort makes them stronger.
In general, they see their brain as a muscle and their talent as not fixed.
They see mistakes and setbacks as learning experiences and opportunities to build new skills, instead of failures.
They take feedback and constructively use it. They learn from criticism.
How do we foster a growth mindset?
Self-awareness
It would help if you had awareness before anything else. If you are not aware of something you can’t change it. When you are aware of something then you can change that thing.
Asking questions that require deep thinking and reflection can be a tool to increase your awareness. This will help you assess your mind and how you think. It helps to identify your belief systems.
Reframing fixed beliefs
Once you assess your mind by, for example, writing down the negative self-talk you have. You can with time change the first thought, a negative thought, to a more, empowering and positive thought.
Embracing challenges
Actively pursue new experiences and challenges that put you out of your comfort zone. Stretch beyond the patterns your mind has already learned. Read on topics you normally wouldn’t consider. It gives your mind fresh input and new ideas.
Conclusion
Cultivating a growth mindset is a journey that requires commitment and consistent effort. With a growth mindset, you can create an environment encouraging growth, learning, and resilience. It leads to more adaptable and successful results.