Mindset Matters: Kicking off February with Focus on Growth

A few weeks back, we were saying hello to the New Year and January, packed with exciting changes, significant targets, and intelligent plans. These were ready to go, like tasty small plates at a big meal. But now, as we move into February, our attention is gently moving to something less obvious but compelling: how we think about things – our mindset.

“Mindset, for real?” You could question, brow arched higher than Dwayne Johnson’s “fiery gaze” in Jumanji (such a humor-filled act, wasn’t it?).

The Role of Mindset

Mindset is our mental view that shapes how we perceive the world and guides our actions. It can be fixed like a sturdy tree or flow like water, leading to two main types: fixed and growth mindset.

The Fixed Mindset

The fixed mindset is a concept developed by psychologist Carol Dweck in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” A fixed mindset carries the assumption that our intelligence, capabilities, and talents are constant and cannot be meaningfully enhanced.

Much like staunch believers in predestined fate, they exclaim, “Success? Oh, it is in the genes”, dismissing the notion that blood, sweat, and tears can pull any weight in the success game.

Avoiding challenges is their favourite sport; why risk proving to the world (and themselves) that they are anything less than perfect? They view constructive criticism like an annoying fly buzzing around their flawless self, an annoyance they would rather swat away than listen carefully to its drone.

Here are some examples of a fixed mindset:

• Math Woes: A believes she is terrible at math and that she cannot do anything about it.
• No to Difficulties: B only picks tasks he knows he can do. He is afraid of difficulties.
• Unmoved Inventor: C does not listen to people who suggest she can improve her ideas. She thinks she already knows best.
• Music Doubts: D thinks people are born good at music. He does not believe hard work and practice can make him a good musician.
• Jealous at Work: E feels terrible when her coworkers do well. She thinks it makes her look worse.

The Growth Mindset

According to Dweck, A growth mindset means believing you can improve at something through hard work and practice.

Think of the growth mindset as the mental equivalent of a gym membership. It is all about believing that your brain-brawn can be beefed up with a bit of sweating and straining. Challenges turn into sweaty workout sessions, while criticism is your trainer. And remember, there is no jealousy in this gym – others’ success is just inspiration for your next brain-pumping session!

Here are some examples of a growth mindset examples:

• Failed test: Seeing it as a chance to improve, not feeling limited.
• New skill: Believing practice and patience leads to proficiency.
• Feedback: Treasuring criticism and using it to grow.
• Others’ success: Feeling inspired and motivated to work harder.
• Setbacks: Persistent effort to understand setbacks as part of learning.

Harnessing the Growth Mindset

If we all want to grow—and who doesn’t?—what we need is a growth mindset. This type of thinking treats problems as an exciting chance to learn. It sees failure not as a sign of being stupid or unfit but as a kick-off point for improvement. It is easy to have this mindset; all we need to be is open and willing to change, like a chameleon changing its colors on the fly.

But going after a growth mindset can have its traps like any good thing. We might get tricked into thinking that everything is about growth or that all advice or feedback—whether helpful or not—is a magic key to success. In such times, it would serve us better to check ourselves, fix our direction if we are off, and keep going.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Cultivating a growth mindset involves both understanding and practice. Here are some ways to do it:

• Tackle Challenges: Challenges are not enemies but friends that make life enjoyable. Let us roll with them!
• Move Past Setbacks: If things do not go according to plan, it is no biggie! Bounce back and dust off those lessons learned.
• Hard Work is Cool: Effort is the secret ingredient to improve and succeed. 
• Criticism is a Friend: Take feedback like you find hidden treasures. Each chat could be a clue on how to better yourself!
• Enjoy Others Succeeding: Do not get jealous when peers succeed. Their wins could be your brain snack for motivation and growth.
• Love Learning: Lives like a vast book chock full of learning. Turn a fresh page daily and enjoy your never-ending story!
• Think Positive: Stay cheerful and confident. Believe you can keep learning and getting better.

With a growth mindset, we are the boss of our own lives—coolly navigating life’s adventures with a healthy dose of courage and a side of humour!

A Word of Caution

While the growth mindset has its merits, it is not the be-all and end-all for a few reasons:

• Misunderstanding or Misapplication: The complexity of the growth mindset concept can lead to confusion or misuse.
• Risk of Perfectionism: Overemphasis on growth can lead to unhealthy perfectionism, neglecting aspects like self-acceptance and mental health.
• Neglecting Systemic Issues: Concentrating only on individual development might unintentionally divert attention from broader problems, such as widespread discrimination.

While a growth mindset fosters resilience and continuous learning, other mindset frameworks, external factors, and systemic constructs also play critical roles in shaping life experiences.

Other mindsets

the concept of mindset extends beyond these two frameworks. The following are examples of some alternative mindsets that individuals can embody:

• Abundance Mindset: This mindset says life is like an everlasting feast. There is plenty for all; share the joy and keep the optimism flowing!
• Positive Mindset: People who think positively are like happy supporters. They always find something good, even in bad situations.

A growth mindset is like believing a garden can grow endlessly (abundance mindset) and that the sun always helps it grow (positive mindset). Together, these mindsets make the garden grow more.

• Negative mindset: they are like pessimistic meteorologists, always predicting stormy weather in every situation.
• Scarcity Mindset: The scarcity mindset is like thinking you are at a buffet about to run out. It causes stress, fear, and a mad dash to get the last piece of the pie.

A fixed mindset is like a pond that does not change. A negative mindset is like constant bad weather stopping the pond from being sunny and happy. A scarcity mindset is being worried the pond will dry up. Together, these make the pond stuck – not growing or changing.

Seeking support

A mindset coach is like a guide who helps us become the best version of ourselves. They point out things we may not see in our thinking and help us grow. They keep us focused and motivated and help us better understand ourselves. They make our lives happier and our relationships better. They also help us do better in life and work. Simply put, they are like a teacher to our minds, helping us grow and get better.

So, dive deep into the undercurrent of all actions and decisions – our mindset. The mental magic transforms dreams into reality, and it is a journey worth undertaking.