Ever feel like something is holding you back? Getting in your way. Well, that something, the thing you can’t quite put your finger on, may be your mindset. Because our mindset is an underlying part of everything we do. It influences the decisions we make, how we perceive the world, and how we perceive ourselves.

 

Mindset: The Two Types

Dr. Carol Dweck has researched Mindsets extensively and published those findings in her phenomenal book, Mindset (if you enjoy this blog I highly recommend reading that as well). In it, she discusses that we have two primary mindsets which are: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. A fixed mindset is a mindset in which we believe our abilities and attributes are fixed and they can’t be changed. A growth mindset however, is based on the fundamental belief that we can improve those abilities and attributes.

When we root ourselves in a fixed mindset we are limiting our growth and potential. With the fixed mindset we constantly feed ourselves limiting beliefs. For example, our fixed mindset might say to us, “I’m dumb and there’s nothing I can do change that.” Or, “I’m not talented enough and there’s nothing I can do about it.” In essence, we’re putting a roadblock in front of our life’s path. Life already throws obstacles on our path at times, we don’t have to make those obstacles even harder to traverse.

In the fixed mindset, we are given no means of traversing the path ahead. While a growth mindset teaches us how to overcome obstacles by giving us the tools to do so, a fixed mindset just leaves us empty handed. Cemented in place with no means to break free of that cement.

 

 

The fixed mindset urges us to constantly prove ourselves and seek validation. To know if we measure up to the task at hand. If we’re good enough. It says to us, “If I win I am something, but if I lose I am nothing.” We believe that if we’re smart, talented, etc., then things should just workout for us. It’s natural and we shouldn’t have to try. Simply accepting we must work at something implies we aren’t good enough as we are. This terrifies our fixed mindset side because it is comfortable just preserving itself. Comfortable with the status quo and doesn’t care about growth. If we challenge the status quo and fail, that failure defines us.

With a growth mindset though, we don’t define ourselves by a failure, we see failure as a means to learn and improve. That failure is not an end itself, but a means to an end. We recognize that as humans we’re naturally flawed and that’s okay. Or, put another way, Dr. Carol Dweck has said, “It’s like anything else in the growth mindset. It’s a reminder that you’re an unfinished human being and a clue to how to do it better next time.”

In the growth mindset we learn to value the process and understand that we can become better at anything if we put in the work to do so. And I’m not talking about just effort either, although that part is huge. It’s also important to try out different strategies if the old ones aren’t helping you. We learn what we can from the situation, develop new strategies if needed, and continually grow.

 

Infographic From Precision Nutrition

 

The good people of Precision Nutrition created the helpful infographic above, and they were kind enough to allow me to use it in this post. It provides a clear way to compare the two mindsets and showcase some of the key differences. One important thing to understand about these mindsets though is that we don’t just have one or the other. In different contexts we have different mindsets.

 

Context Is King

It’s not as simple as saying, “I have a fixed mindset,” or, “I have a growth mindset.” Because the thing is, we can be a mix of both mindsets depending on the given context. For example, let’s look through the lens of a romantic relationship. I can have mindset based on how I view my partner. She can have a mindset based on how she views me. There is also a mindset based on how we view the relationship, in relation to whether it can improve or not. So, in one area, a romantic relationship, we have 3 mindsets. Heck, we can even have a mindset about our mindsets and whether we can change them.

Another example of how our mindsets are contextual is seen when viewing a sports team and their coach. They may have a fixed mindset about their coaching abilities and believe that their coaching is as good as it will get. They can also however, have a growth mindset towards their athletes because they believe the athletes can grow and develop their skills.

 

 

Now, maybe you’re wondering, “I get the difference between the mindsets and understand a growth mindset is valuable, but I’m afraid of changing that.” And that’s completely normal. Our mindsets make up who we are so by changing them, we are changing us. Life is about change though, and we have the power to make our lives better, then why not go for it? We’re always changing whether we like it or not. May as well change in a way that’s beneficial to us and is in alignment with who we want to become. Just look at it through the lens of a failure.

If we fail and we have a fixed mindset, that failure devastates and defines us. We gain nothing from it and feel like doodoo. But using a growth mindset, it will still suck for sure, but we can use it as a springboard towards a better us. That failure now has meaning.

So, by now you understand how fixed mindsets hinder us and growth mindsets serve us. Now what? Well, we start the process of introspection and discovering the areas in our lives in which we adopt a fixed mindset. And make no mistake we all have our fixed mindsets show up depending on the context. Think about the different situations you may find yourself in and ask yourself, “In this situation am I adopting a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?” Accepting we have these fixed mindsets and becoming aware of them is the best starting point for changing them.

 

Constantly Growing

“Whether people change their mindset in order to further their career, heal from a loss, help their children thrive, lose weight, or control their anger, change needs to be maintained. It’s amazing—once a problem improves, people often stop doing what caused it to improve. Once you feel better, you stop taking your medicine.”

Nothing is constant because everything changes. Just because you’ve done the hard work of changing your fixed mindset areas to a growth mindset view, doesn’t mean the work is done. Because, the work is never done. There’s always a chance that we will slip back into our fixed mindset ways and it’s natural. It’s nothing to be afraid of because now we have the tools to help us in these moments. As with anything in the growth mindset we honor this process and continually work to be our best selves.

Remember, our mindsets underly everything we do in our life. We can start to orient those fixed mindset areas towards a growth mindset view. If we believe that our mindsets can change, and that they are a part of our personalities, then we can change ourselves. We not only gain a new perspective about the world and those around us, but ourselves as well. The better we understand ourselves the more control we have over our lives.

 

Source:

Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck.