The concept of mindset is something we come across in fields such as education, skills development, and personal development.
Behavior
Growth mindset vs fixed mindset
The concept of mindset is something we come across in fields such as education, skills development, and personal development.
Different types of mindsets can achieve different results. A fixed mindset is likely to tell us we cannot achieve our goals or change, and it acts as a blocker. A growth mindset allows us to believe that we can change, grow and develop to achieve our goals, dreams, and ambitions – if we put in the work and challenge ourselves to evolve. This article will look closely at the concepts of growth and fixed mindsets and cover the essential things to know about each state.
Education resources
What is a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is considered to be a precursor to success. When people have a growth mindset, they have a powerful sense of self-belief that affects what they want, what they do, and whether they are likely to succeed in getting it. This mindset can be innate and present subconsciously, or it can be something that we learn and develop consciously over time until it becomes second nature.
A powerful growth mindset is a trait in successful people who know they can effect positive changes to achieve their goals and ambitions. Growth mindsets may be represented differently in different people, but the approach begins with openness and a willingness to embrace change, development, and the innate potential of the self.
What is a fixed mindset?
With a fixed mindset, the individual believes it isn’t possible to change and is resistant to opportunities for personal growth and development. This mindset makes it very difficult to progress in life and achieve goals. It is also a passive state that removes the individual’s ability and power to effect positive change. People who do not succeed tend to have fixed mindsets.
Where does mindset theory come from?
Theories of mindset consider what and what isn’t within our sphere of control and describe how human motivation can create or hinder situations of success. These theories primarily come from human psychology fields, which look at mindset and outcomes. They bridge fields such as personality, social, and developmental psychology. Researchers consider where these mindsets originate, how they impact motivation, behavior, and self-regulation, and how they affect achievement and life experiences.
Key things to know about a growth mindset
Here are some key things to know when considering the power of a growth mindset. These are outcomes that researchers have uncovered in complex fields of psychology and in-depth human studies:
- Our language and choice of words can profoundly affect our achievements and development. Open, positive language motivates us to continue in our journey of development. Closed, negative language can demotivate us quickly and remove the incentive to strive for change.
- Our conscious and unconscious thoughts both combine to impact our mindset. When people do not naturally have a growth mindset; for example, if they haven’t been raised to believe that they can develop, grow and succeed, they can develop their conscious thoughts to help create the subconscious change over time.
- Our belief systems have a powerful impact on what we want in life and whether or not we will succeed in gaining it.
- When we consider the concept of ‘personality,’ much of what we assess is driven by mindset.
- A growth mindset is an exciting concept that turns the idea of ‘fixed traits’ on its head. For example, in the past, many people felt that personalities and intelligence levels were fixed. But today, we believe these can be developed and improved in line with our goals. This means that our self-perception is the key to unlocking change. Suppose we believe that our personality, intelligence, qualities, and position in life are fixed and unchangeable. In that case, our minds reinforce this again rather than compelling us to learn from our mistakes and do things differently for better results.
The danger of trying to prove ourselves
Human psychologists discuss the danger of trying to prove ourselves in different life contexts, such as work, school, and interpersonal relationships. Every situation in life calls on us to confirm our personality, intelligence, and character, with every situation being evaluated. Naturally, it’s normal and culturally desirable to be intelligent, have a good personality, and have a strong moral character. These cultural norms are powerful influences on our behavior and may cause anxiety when attempting to change.
However, with a growth mindset, we can recognize that none of these traits are fixed. Whatever hand we may have been dealt at birth and through the course of our lives to that moment, we have the power to change. The situation you begin with becomes the baseline for growth and improvement. With the growth mindset, we can begin to believe that our basic qualities are simply a starting point for us to develop through applied efforts.
The impact of changing our beliefs
One of the biggest impacts of changing our belief system is that it creates a high degree of motivation and a passion for development and learning. Rather than proving that we are up to the task and acceptable to the world around us, we can focus on genuinely improving in the areas in which we want to excel.
Rather than seeking to hide our perceived deficiencies, we can work on overcoming them. And this has a profound effect on our lives. For example, when we adopt this transformational growth mindset, we can:
- Look for partners and friends who challenge us to be the best we can be – rather than just boosting our self-esteem or reinforcing the status quo.
- Try new experiences that stretch and challenge us rather than things we are familiar with. The true growth mindset then comes in when we are experiencing something new and difficult that may not be going well. We can then commit to overcoming the obstacle and thrive during periods of challenge and uncertainty.
Putting the growth mindset into practice
Everyone can learn to develop a growth mindset. However, it is likely to be a continuous process that takes time to develop rather than something you can switch on automatically.
Here are some steps to take to develop a growth mindset and put it into practice in your everyday life. Everyone’s journey will be different, but these steps are all useful foundational stages for development.
1. Reflect
By its very nature, a growth mindset requires us to put in the effort needed to grow and learn. It requires us to get comfortable with taking risks. This can be an uncomfortable and challenging process, so the starting point is to accept that we’ll need to put the work in, in order to get the results. Reflection and practices such as journaling can be constructive here to work through our feelings and beliefs and to begin to unpick our hidden motivations and belief systems that either propel us forward or keep us back.
2. Look at linkages
Many personal development books claim to offer the secrets of success but share random tips for helpful behaviors or qualities. However, true success comes from the foundation of the growth mindset theory and then recognizes the interconnected nature of our lives as a system. When we affect change in one area, something else changes. For example, if we believe that we can become more productive, we can set our morning alarm a little earlier and implement helpful morning routine practices that set us up for success. We can try new things and measure the results when we recognize that we are responsible for our development and changes.
3. Embrace failure
The world’s most successful failures always have a growth mindset; as part of this, they can welcome setbacks and convert them into successes. Research agrees that failure creates resilience and perseverance when we embrace it, which can help us overcome the fear and pain of failure and then learn from it. Rather than blaming others, we can learn from mistakes, consider what we could do better next time, and take responsibility for making changes.
4. Look at the power of ‘yet’
Experts agree that operating just outside your everyday comfort zone is particularly powerful for getting better performance. This is crucial to attaining a deliberate practice of any kind. Rather than saying to yourself, ‘I am not clever enough to solve this particular problem I am facing’, say, ‘I have not yet solved this problem, but I am working on it’. Tell yourself ‘not yet’ when considering what you cannot yet do. This gives you the mental power and ability to work on the area in question and transform it into a ‘done and achieved’. It’s also a powerful practice because ‘yet’ takes us forwards into the future and rewards our investment in development, growth, and learning to achieve a future goal. It removes the need to achieve everything ‘now’, even if we aren’t ready. If we’re prepared to invest in our development, we can set those stretch goals which compel us to grow.
5. Stop looking for validation
The external world is set up to reward immediacy and to offer validation through grade scores, certificates, exams, and so forth. But these forms of external validation mean that we focus only on external goals and markers of recognition which may have little reflection on our internal drivers, values, and goals. Rather than seek external validation and approval, learn to focus on your true goals and motivations. This is a wonderful release and a great step forward in remaining true to your vision – and ceasing to be distracted by what others tell you is important.
6. Focus on the process
Rather than praising talent or intellect, praise the process – whether in your case or the case of your children and loved ones. Celebrate efforts, focus, perseverance, strategies, and improvement. This praise helps build resilience, confidence, and goal setting. It also changes our mindset and forces us out of our comfort zone. Research shows that children who are encouraged to grow and develop with positive ‘process’ praise become more confident and able to handle setbacks. They also develop their brains differently to embrace challenges, learning, and opportunity throughout their lives, rather than becoming stifled by the need for validation or closed-loop thinking that holds them back.
7. Measure progress
Focus on achieving small steps and measure your progress to see how your efforts and hard work translate into success. This will help to create a positive reinforcement loop that encourages you to continue on your path. By breaking down goals into small steps you can also enjoy a regular feeling of achievement. When you feel daunted or experience setbacks, you can see how far you have come and enjoy a sense of satisfaction and fresh motivation.
Summary
There are two main types of mindset in how we approach our lives. A fixed mindset tells us that our qualities, personality, and intelligence are innate and fixed at birth, and we cannot change them. This is a disempowering position that removes our motivation to change.
A growth mindset allows us to see our traits, personality, and intelligence as a starting point to work on and further develop. It teaches us that our goals can be achieved with persistence, effort, determination, and hard work. Successful people invariably have growth mindsets because these optimistic, questioning, and positive states of mind teach us that change is within our power and remit – and that we can achieve what we want with the right systems, determination, and focus.
Some people are lucky enough to be born with a growth mindset, but most will need to develop these qualities over time. This can be done by first believing in the possibility of change, learning to speak to yourself with positive reinforcement language, and following steps that encourage your new frame of mind, new belief system, and new intention to be your best self.
With time and effort, it is possible to migrate from a fixed mindset to an exciting growth mindset that truly allows you to self-actualize and become the full, rounded, talented, and evolving individual that you were meant to be and to show up in life with all of your strengths, attributes, and qualities at their highest level of evolution. These changes take place over time, but the process is certainly well worth the investment, and once you have a growth mindset, it will take you toward your goals for your lifetime.
