There are two different types of mindsets- a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Your mindset is what you believe about yourself and you carry this knowledge through what shows up in your life. Think about your qualities, your knowledge, your personality. Are these qualities simply fixed traits, carved into stone and it is what it is, or are they things you can cultivate throughout your life? Most importantly, can you change from fixed to growth mindset?
What is a Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset?
Fixed mindset people believe they are born a certain way, and that they cannot do anything to change that. Likewise, they believe other people are also born a certain way and cannot be changed. They see no point in trying to change themselves or others. A fixed mindset is often a result of being influenced by the outside world on generalized beliefs, on how things should be or how things are supposed to look and feel. Look around you and you will see it everywhere.
A lot of these beliefs that we have adopted happened in our childhood and throughout life, with potential false illusions that were predetermined whether by the media, our teachers, our parents, or grandparents. Some of these beliefs however, happened from past experiences, such as disappointments. They resulted in fear and the meaning we have given it.People with a fixed mindset believe that their talents or skills are just a given. They have a certain amount of capacity in learning and talents, and nothing can change that.
In a growth mindset, people believe that anything is possible! That perhaps they do not have the skill set necessary yet but that they can obtain and develop it. Teaching what a growth mindset is, creates motivation and productivity. Whether you are a business professional, a child in school, or an athlete, anyone can benefit from it.
It even enhances relationships, both in business and personal life. Science backs up the theory of growth mindset with studies on productivity, learning and motivation that have been influenced positively through it. When you understand the fundamentals of how something works it changes everything. Knowledge is power in so many areas of life and that will help you change from fixed to growth mindset.
People with a growth mindset see their qualities as things that can be developed through their dedication, way of thinking and seeing the world around them. This is what allows them to take action.
What Stands Behind Great Achievements?
Human beings absolutely follow through on who they believe they are. In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talents, are simply fixed traits. They spend all their time documenting their intelligence and talents instead of developing them. They often also believe that talent alone creates success, without effort. They’re wrong!
What stops people from pursuing their dreams? It always has and always will be the belief they hold of themselves in their mind. Period.
Look at great achievers like… Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan, Steven Spielberg, Jack Canfield, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, and even people you may know who have achieved great things. What eventually set them apart from the crowd? It is always their mindset and drive. Not just the way they see things, but the way the think about things and the way they see themselves. You create your own boundaries of success. If you truly believe there is no limit to what you can achieve, that will be your reality.
The Power of Your Belief System
Research has shown that the view you adopt of yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and commit to and accomplish the things you value, or live life wishing you had done so.
How can a simple belief have the power to transform your psychology and as a result your life?
The answer is simple. We always have a need to prove ourselves over and over again on who we think we are. It’s the need for certainty in our lives. When you look at your life and how it is now, it is always a reflection on how you see yourself. When you understand how you can change from fixed to growth mindset, your circumstances regardless of how you got there will change as well and life can and will be filled with endless possibilities. Possibilities that you created.
How Can You Change from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset?
Understand that you deserve anything you set out to achieve. There is nothing different between you and another person who has reached high levels of success. You deserve nothing but the best. You were not put on this Earth to live a mediocre life! OWN IT!
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Have a clear and compelling vision of what beliefs you need to have to reach your goals
What does this success look like for you? Go deep with this one.
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Maintain full control of what enters your mind
Control your inner dialogue when it’s on a negative rant. Make it powerless! Your inner dialogue might say to you “What if you fail?” or “Are you sure you can do it?”, “People will laugh at you”, or if you hit a setback, you might hear from others “You see, I told you it was a risk”, “It’s’ not too late to back out, make excuses and play it safe”. Change the channel of this negative self-talk and ignore the people who are bringing you down.
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Recognize the power of language patterns
Only state things in the positive. Ask the right questions. If you ask a lousy question you will get a lousy answer. Ask questions in a positive way, like “How can I change things around?”, “What if I succeed? What will that look like?”
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Fixed Mindset: “I knew this would happen and I couldn’t do it, I suck at this.”
Growth Mindset: “Most successful people had challenges along the way and kept pushing ahead, and still succeeded to accomplish great things. I CAN beat the odds”
Fixed Mindset: “Are you sure you can do it?” “Maybe you don’t have what it takes”
Growth Mindset: “I am not sure how to do this, but I am confident that I will learn to master it. I will ask someone; I will FIND the way!”
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Recognize that you have a choice
You can make a new choice. How you interpret challenges, setbacks and criticism is your choice. A fixed mindset accepts it to be lack of ability or skills you don’t have. A growth mindset interprets it as a way to ramp up a new strategy, stretch your limits and grow your abilities as you approach a challenge. As we know, life happens or another phrase I’m sure you’ve heard, shit happens.
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Acknowledge that you will get over a setback
The main thing here is to acknowledge when something may not be working for you. When you realize that potentially the way of thinking that you have today may not get you where you want to be tomorrow, change it! If you encounter a setback, acknowledge what happened, devise a plan and move on.
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Learn how to face constructive criticism and feedback
Fixed Mindset: “It’s not my fault”. It was something or someone else’s fault.
Growth Mindset: “If I don’t take responsibility, I can’t fix it. I will listen however painful it is, face this head on and learn whatever I can to fix it. Constructive criticism only helps me grow!
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