Are You Fixed? - Where Is Your Mindset?
In 2006 Psychologist Carol Dweck published her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
The book was groundbreaking,
and in recent years her methodology has been used in schools to transform teaching and learning for students.
The book distinguished between a 'Fixed' mindset, and a 'Growth' mindset,
and, whichever mindset you have,
it can have a profound effect on your learning, skills development, relationships, professional life, and many other aspects of the life you live.
So, what's this all about?
A 'Fixed' mindset is a belief or perception about yourself that you think can't be changed.
The belief is that they are a personal trait that you have.
For example, I'm not intelligent, I'm good at sport, I'm not good at music.
People with a fixed mindset tend to believe that they don't have to work hard for what they have,
that whatever they achieve is a talent that doesn't need to be nurtured or developed.
This results in slower growth, slower progression of skills, avoidance of challenges (because they're frightened that their belief might not be true),
and ultimately,
in failure.
We've spoken before about how your brain looks for evidence to support your beliefs,
and the failure of something provides evidence for the fixed belief.
However, people with a 'Growth' mindset, believe that any talent or skill can be learned, developed and nurtured through hard work and dedication.
This results in a willingness to learning and developing new skills, challenging oneself, taking risks, and viewing failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
People with a growth mindset tend to learn more quickly and thoroughly, push themselves harder, and ultimately,
be more successful.
Which are you?
Fixed?
or Growing?