Donβt Slip Back Into Old Fixed Mindset Habits
Developing a growth mindset takes time and if you have been working on changing from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, good for you! However, perhaps you are finding some of your old fixed ways of thinking are returning.
You donβt want to slip back into old fixed mindset habits. They will stop you from achieving success!
How a Fixed Mindset Affects Success
People who have a fixed mindset tend to:
Β· Avoid challenging situations.
Β· Believe that smart and talented people donβt have to work hard.
Β· Think that effort is pointless.
Β· Avoid listening to feedback, or take feedback personally.
Β· Feel like a failure any time they are less than perfect on a task.
Β· Blame external factors for their flaws.
How a Growth Mindset Affects Success
On the other hand, a growth mindset encourages:
Β· Hard work. If itβs possible to get better, then hard work is to be embraced.
Β· Taking on new challenges. After all, why would you keep doing something over and over, when you can tackle something new and exciting?
Β· A willingness to ask for help. To someone with a growth mindset, thereβs no shame in not knowing something or not being able to do it well β thatβs the first stage in getting better.
Β· The belief that βto failβ is βto learn.β
Your new growth mindset needs care and nurturing, so if you find yourself slipping back into fixed mindset habits, remember these vital tips below.
Β· Firstly, keep trying! A growth mindset teaches that learning and growth are always possible. If you struggle to internalize this idea, just keep holding it as an ideal. The more you strive towards your growth mindset, the more you build it up.
Β· Embrace challenges. Donβt shy away from difficult problems. Tackling something challenging and mastering it is the best way to build and maintain a growth mindset.
Β· Try different ways to learn. Not everyone learns in the same way. If you are struggling to master a subject, try different strategies. Most colleges and universities have study skills classes that can teach you different ways to tackle learning. Keep trying until you find what works for you.
Β· Delete βfailureβ from your vocabulary. In a fixed mindset, not completing a task perfectly can feel like a failure. Itβs not. It just shows that you have more learning to do. When you donβt do as well as you like, you havenβt failed; you just havenβt mastered the task yet. Keep trying, keep learning, and youβll be a winner.
Β· Hold realistic expectations. It takes time and energy to learn a subject or improve your skills. If you are getting frustrated because you canβt (do it just yet), make sure you have realistic expectations about how quickly you can improve.
Β· Love the process, not the outcome. People with a growth mindset develop a love of learning that leads them to ever greater challenges. Along the way, they tend to accumulate successes, but the success wasnβt the point, the challenge was. Embrace this way of thinking. Learn to love the process of learning and keep challenging yourself as you move through life.
The science is clear. It is possible to learn, grow, and change throughout your lifetime. No matter what you think your traits, abilities, and skills are, itβs possible to improve in any area that you chose to focus on. In contrast, believing that your skills are fixed has a way of limiting what you can achieve.
To truly unlock your potential, work on developing, growing, and maintaining a growth mindset. Once you develop a love of learning and belief in your capacity for growth, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Have you noticed this is also a trait of a growth mindset?















