The Difference Between the Fixed Mindset and the Growth Mindset
There are two types of people: fixed mindset people and growth mindset people. Which one do you belong to?
Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford University known for her work on the fixed mindset vs. the growth mindset, describes how the difference between the fixed mindset and the growth mindset impacts our performance and life success.
What are the Key Differences Between Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset?
People with a fixed mindset believe their traits, abilities, and intelligence are fixed and cannot be modified. For example, these people believe that their talents will lead to success and that no effort is required in order to succeed. Or that they were born with a constant level of intelligence that cannot be changed.
On the other hand, people with a growth mindset have confidence that their learning, abilities, and intelligence can develop with time and effort. These people believe that their basic skills and intelligence are just a starting point and that their efforts can have a significant effect on their achievements. Therefore, these people’s determination usually leads to a higher accomplishment.
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People with a fixed mindset tend to avoid changes and often get overwhelmed by inevitable changes in life. Furthermore, they tend to give up easily. Alternatively, people with a growth mindset embrace challenges, seeing them as growth and progress opportunities.
Individuals with a fixed mindset don’t tolerate criticism while people growth-oriented learn from criticism and evaluation. Growth mindset people are confident in their abilities and show the willingness to learn from their failures.
Unlike fixed mindset people, those growth-oriented are lifetime learners; they never stop learning new things and acquiring new skills.
Therefore, if you want to succeed in life, you need to develop a growth mindset.
How to Develop and Nurture Growth Mindset
1. View Life Challenges and Crisis as Opportunities
Taking on challenges in life is an important part of personal growth and development. Growth-oriented people are not afraid of failure, so they get out of their comfort zones and embark on new challenges. Avoiding challenges can prevent you from seizing opportunities in life and reaching your goals.
2. Keep in Mind the Brain’s Plasticity
Your brain has the ability to change and adapt throughout life by forming new connections between the neurons or strengthening the already existing ones. In other words, the brain remains active and flexible throughout life strengthening existing behavior patterns, expanding current behaviors, or adapting to entirely new behavior patterns. This allows your brain to adapt to new situations or a new environment. Therefore, if your brain is able to change, your mind has the same ability too.
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3. Focus on the Process Rather than on Results
Keep in mind that any growth is a process that requires effort and flexibility. Furthermore, set clear goals and plan strategies to accomplish them. Enjoy the learning process, be patient, and have faith in yourself. Be open to new opportunities and new lessons that you may take on along the way.
Choosing between the fixed and the growth mindset means choosing a world for yourself. In the world of fixed possibilities, your success depends on how you are smart or gifted. However, in the world of growth and change, it’s about developing yourself to be more successful and to become a better person while enjoying the learning process. You choose.
