One of the most important characteristics of the growth mindset is its ability to be flexible. It does not believe that one’s ideas are right or wrong, but is open to changing them if new evidence becomes available. It acknowledges that many things in life are unpredictable but holds a realistic attitude toward them. Many people have come to appreciate this aspect of the growth mindset and have come to see it as a superior way of approaching situations. When an individual comes to this point in his development, he has developed a higher sense of self-worth, and thus is able to focus on building rather than worrying about the way things are going.
In broad terms, a growth mindset is simply a set of attitudes, theories, or ways of thinking that come from one’s cultural perspective or individual’s world view. A fixed mindset is also considered to be derived from a person’s philosophy of life or his world view. However, there are those who believe that a fixed mindset is necessary because some things are fixed by nature, while others can be changed. When an individual reaches a certain point in his development where he believes that everything is either fixed or changing, he tends to neglect learning new skills and opting for what has been done before rather than trying to figure out how to do something differently.
Fixed mindsets are often employed by those who possess less than average intelligence, as they can be used to compensate for deficiencies. For example, it would be very difficult for a teacher with a low average intelligence to teach high school students effectively. He would need to develop a growth mindset that would allow him to use his talents and gifts to supplement his teaching. People with fixed mindsets also tend to under-estimate their own intelligence, especially when it comes to solving practical problems.
Growth mindset, on the other hand, is different from fixed mindset. It is defined as the ability to make the learning process a positive experience. Although many people believe that learning must always be done through trial and error, this is not true. Learning should be viewed as a natural part of the growth process. In fact, any experienced learner would agree that learning is never a one-time process, but rather, it is an ongoing activity that should be approached from different perspectives.
According to the principle of growth mindset, you will never be successful unless you get better at something. And this includes learning how to get better at whatever it is you are trying to learn. As such, a person must constantly be willing to try out new things and get better at doing them in order to succeed. If you are thinking that you will only get better at your job when you have enough money and an army of assistants to help you along, you will probably be disappointed. If, however, you believe that you will be able to succeed no matter what happens if you don’t get better, you will be very disappointed.
Growth mindset is all about taking calculated risks. It is all about evaluating what your strengths and weaknesses are and work to improve these aspects of yourself. Those who possess a growth mindset believe that they can use their weaknesses to their advantage; they can use their strengths to their advantage. The ability to identify your strengths and weaknesses lies in part with having a positive attitude and a positive frame of mind. When you take calculated risks, you will develop the mental and emotional attributes that allow you to use your abilities in a positive way.
You may have heard the saying “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” That is true under the right circumstances, but the true meaning of that saying is that those who are capable of planning and creating will plan for those times when they won’t succeed, and they will celebrate in advance when they do. With a growth mindset, you will spend your time trying to figure out what makes you unique, rather than focusing on what you think others will find attractive. By focusing on your uniqueness, you’ll be more confident and pursue your goals in a more focused manner.
If you’re going to discover success, you must eliminate all the fixed mindsets that limit your potential. These fixed mindsets, namely: low self-esteem, the belief that you cannot succeed because you’ve been failures in the past, or that you must compete with others, limit your growth mindset to the status quo. Your growth mindset should be one that is designed around the recognition that you are unique and special, and that you are the best person for the job, even when others have done it before. If you apply the right Growth Mindset principles to your life, you will get more done and accomplish more, even in tough times.