There are two challenges to meet when there’s something you need to do. One is being physically able to do it. The other is mentally convincing yourself that you both can and want to do it. According to some psychologists, the second is much more important than the first.
Carol Dweck is probably the most famous psychologist to have worked on mindset as a concept. She divided mindset into two types: “fixed” and “growth”. If you have a fixed mindset, you believe your traits and abilities are set in stone and there’s nothing you can do to change them. A growth mindset is always open to the possibility of improvement.
This idea has broad implications. People with a fixed mindset may place artificial limits on themselves based on what they think they can do, without making realistic efforts to try to better themselves. If they attempt something new and find it difficult, they may give up immediately because they decide it’s impossible. A fixed mindset means less motivation to try.
In contrast, a growth mindset takes every challenge as an opportunity. The fact that something seems difficult isn’t enough to deter the attempt, and early failures are seen more as a chance to learn than a guarantee of hopelessness. Even if they’re not passionate about a task, people with growth mindsets can still find ways to engage with it and are more likely to find it rewarding in the long term.
So, how do you ensure you have a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset? Well, much of the time, people’s attitudes are based on their childhood experiences. The kind of praise (or not) you receive can affect your mindset growing up. People who are commended based on their results or for being smart, strong or similar may internalize the idea that they’re good or bad based on inherent traits. If they’re praised for making an effort, regardless of results, that encourages a growth mindset.
Of course, once you reach adulthood, you’re not as malleable to new ideas as you were when you were a child. Changing your mindset becomes harder, but it’s not impossible. It requires you to actively watch what you say and even how you think to try to avoid fixed attitudes, and to regularly challenge yourself to try to pursue growth. Hopefully, you can learn to love the journey.
