According to psychological theory and creative process thinking, a growth mindset is simply a collection of attitudes, techniques, or concepts held by a single individual or group of individuals. In broad terms, a growth mindset can be viewed as arising from a person’s perspective or world view of life. It is an ever changing and evolving approach to life and has great implications for achievement. It is defined as an approach that encourages creativity and innovation. Although the definition may vary from one individual to another, it essentially includes the following:
“A growth mindset entails the confidence that one can and will succeed at the tasks at hand.” – Albert Einstein. In short, it means that you do not give up, you persevere, and you take each and every challenge as it comes. This attitude helps you overcome setbacks and excel in your efforts.
According to intelligence experts, if you want to reach a certain level of performance, you need to practice hard work and have a growth mindset. Those who are able to achieve a fixed level of intelligence will tell you that they were able to do so because they put forth the effort required. And those who have a growth mindset tell us that they did not quit when they reached the top.
Growth mindsets are also linked to self-confidence. Those with a growth mindset believe they are capable of doing whatever is necessary to reach their goals, and they do not give up easily. They have a high sense of personal responsibility, and they view failure as a setback. Another way to look at this is to view success as a series of steps, and failure as a series of mistakes. They are very self-confident because they believe they know what needs to be done to achieve success. Those with growth mindsets are also willing to take risks.
Growth mindset and intelligence are two sides of the same coin. Your intelligence can help you succeed in life if you have a growth mindset. But if you have the other side, you won’t get very far. To become highly intelligent, you need a lot of self-discipline, self-motivation, and you have to use your imagination a lot. Growth mindset allows you to do all of this. And it has something to do with your willingness to be flexible and to try new things.
Growth mindset believes that intelligence is everything, but it also believes that effort makes much more difference. It also believes that people are people, and that attitudes also matter. If you want to be successful in life, you need to work on yourself and to set goals. But if you have a growth mindset, you will understand that what you put into your efforts makes a big difference. Your mindset believes that you are the architect of your own destiny.
Having a growth mindset also helps you focus on the big picture, and it also helps you avoid the small pitfalls. In the first place, setbacks are good because they teach you something. But if you have a fixed mindset, you tend to look at each setback as a lesson in failure, and you learn nothing from them.
Finally, having growth mindset means that you accept the idea that there is no such thing as a special or separate right or wrong, that everyone and everything is connected, and that there is only one world and you are the only visible part of it. If there are no bright spot, no exception, no misunderstanding, then there is no pain or fear. You cannot escape the reality of suffering in this one world. But if you have a growth mindset, you will see that what you experience in this one world is also inevitable. You will see that what you do here is also part of the bigger whole.