Build!

It’s amazing how powerful our minds and our thoughts can be; how we look at the world shapes our own world. This is the main message of the book called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success written by psychologist and researcher Carol Dweck. In this book, Professor Dweck describes the importance of having the right mindset to maximize our potential. Her theory explains how the two ways we think about our intelligence, abilities, and talents can have a huge impact on our success in every area of life.

The main idea behind Dweck’s theory is that all people share two different mindsets. A growth mindset is “the understanding that abilities and skills can be developed”. Those with a growth mindset believe they can get smarter, more intelligent, and more talented by putting in time and effort. On the flip side, a fixed mindset is one that assumes abilities and understanding are relatively fixed. Those with a fixed mindset may not believe that intelligence can be enhanced, or that you either “have it or you don’t” when it comes to abilities and talents.

The main difference between the two mindsets is the belief in the permanence of intelligence and ability. One views it as very permanent, with little to no room for change, while the other views it as more flexible, with opportunities for improvement. This difference in mindset may lead to marked differences in behavior as well. If someone believes intelligence and abilities are inherent traits, they are not likely to put in much effort to change their intelligence and abilities. On the other hand, those who believe they can change these traits may be much more willing to put in extra effort to achieve more ambitious goals. In her book, Carol Dweck explains that with a growth mindset, individuals may achieve more than others because they are worrying less about seeming smart or talented and putting more of their energy into learning.

It’s easy to see examples of a growth mindset in students. Those with a growth mindset tend to see challenges as a natural part of the learning process. They work harder, which helps them to learn and achieve more than students with a fixed mindset. Students with a growth mindset may display some distinctive behaviors, such as volunteering answers in class even when unsure, asking a question even if it might seem basic or “stupid,” or seeking out problems that will push them instead of problems that keep them safely within their comfort zone. Students with a fixed mindset, on the other hand, are worried about how they look. They are afraid to make a mistake because someone might think they aren’t “smart enough.” This pushes them to easily give up when they don’t understand or can’t do something. They will often complain that the task is too difficult or seek for teacher’s help without even trying.

For a specific example, John Rhodes (2015) shares the following scenario. When you are assigned a daunting new task or when you take on a challenging project, it can be tempting to think “I’m not good at this kind of stuff. It’s just not my strong suit!” You might be right that it’s not one of your strengths, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn it. A fixed mindset will take this self-defeating thought and run with it, concluding that there’s no point in putting all that much effort into something that just isn’t your cup of tea. On the other hand, a growth mindset will see this new challenge as an opportunity to grow. Someone with this mindset might think, “I can figure this out. What do I need to do to get my skills at the right level? Are there classes I can take? People I can ask for help? Any other resources that might help?”
It isn’t easy to achieve a growth mindset; however, it is possible. Saga Briggs suggests using the following techniques. First of all, replace the word “failing” with the word “learning” in your vocabulary. Language plays an important role in forming a mindset, so it is important to carefully select the thoughts that are constructive. For example, you can try to use the phrase “not yet” more often, as in, “I haven’t mastered it yet.” How we view learning also affects our mindset. It is essential to emphasize learning well over learning quickly, even though it requires more effort and time. To avoid disappointment, think realistically about how much time and effort your goal will take. Nothing happens quickly, especially learning a new skill, and if you keep this in mind, it will help you avoid being disappointed. Finally, it is important to take risks. If you don’t try new or challenging things, you are limiting the number of opportunities that are coming your way. Therefore, practice asking questions and being curious, especially when you are learning new things. Remember that every frustrating mistake is an opportunity to learn and develop.

The growth mindset will lead you to new skills, new knowledge, and new areas of expertise, while the fixed mindset will leave you about where you started—with little skill in the task at hand and little confidence in your abilities. Having a growth mindset isn’t an “easy button” solution to any problem, and it will not automatically cause good things to happen to you; however, it will likely make it easier and more enjoyable to work hard toward your future and give you the confidence you need to set ever more ambitious goals.