Do you know if you have a fixed or growth mindset?
Developing a growth mindset is key to success.
If you’re always learning and growing, you’re always improving and expanding your experience of life.
And the best part is, you can never stop growing. It’s a lifelong journey.
The first step to developing a growth mindset over a fixed one is to realize the difference between the two.
What Are Fixed And Growth Mindsets?
It’s important to understand the difference between having a fixed and growth mindset, and there’s no one better than psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck for this.
Dr. Dweck is a psychologist and Stanford University professor who authored the famous book, Mindset The New Psychology Of Success.
If you haven’t read this book I highly recommend it. So good.
In the book, Dr. Dweck describes the differences between a fixed and growth mindset, as well as why it’s so important to cultivate a growth mindset (and exactly how to do it).
Defining A Fixed Mindset
A fixed mindset is when you believe you’re unchangeable. You believe that your circumstances are what control you.
People with a fixed mindset aren’t learning anything new. They may try to avoid challenges and difficult situations. They try to steer clear of activities that make them feel discomfort. People with fixed mindsets rarely try to improve on their intelligence, talents, and abilities.
A fixed mindset will keep you accepting criticism. Failure will never be something to be learned from. Having a fixed mindset will keep you trapped in a cycle of no change. You will stay in your comfort zone with this mindset.
Those with a fixed mindset will find they won’t reach all the success they’re capable of. They won’t stretch themselves outside their comfort zone.
Defining A Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is when you believe there’s always more to learn. A growth mindset is the key that unlocks so much success.
People with a growth mindset embrace getting outside their comfort zone. They take their basic qualities and improve them. They’re always up for new challenges. They don’t let failure sabotage their success. They use setbacks as a set ups for the future. To build a growth mindset takes being open minded and willing to not make failures mean anything has gone wrong.
People with a growth mindset are always looking for opportunities to learn and grow. A growth mindset coincides with the belief your abilities can be developed.
People who have a growth mindset genuinely believe they can grow, change, and improve.
Note though, that this isn’t from lack—from not loving yourself. It’s from a place of wholeness. It’s wanting to expand and grow from a place of enough.
How A Growth Mindset Helps You Succeed
Having a growth mindset helps you succeed more than almost anything else.
You can’t succeed at anything new if you have a fixed mindset. You won’t even try.
With a growth mindset, you’re willing to fail forward. You’re not scared of failure. You use failure as an opportunity for feedback. Then, you try again.
The most successful people aren’t successful because they never fail. They’re failing left and right. The difference is they don’t interpret the failure negatively. They take it as feedback and to try again.
Additionally, with a growth mindset, you enjoy the process and journey so much that success is inevitable. It’s not so much of a rush to get the result. You genuinely love the process.
A growth mindset is future-focused. You’re not focused on your limiting beliefs from the past. Instead, you’re focusing on creating a future from your imagination (if you haven’t listened to the Intentional Imagination episode, make sure you check it out).
I can relate to having a growth mindset so much with my business. I was willing to fail forward so much because I loved the process. This was so helpful when I first started my business. And it’s helpful to this day, as I continue to focus on the future.
How To Develop A Growth Mindset
The good news is that you can cultivate a growth mindset.
Your brain and view you adopt can change if you’re up for the challenge.
So, even if you identify as having a fixed mindset now, you can absolutely change that.
Here’s how you can get started…
Set Learning Goals
One of the best actions you can take is set learning goals. Learning is a huge part of a growth mindset. When you focus on how you can constantly be better, that’s what you’re going to create.
Set goals that push you forward. Learn a new language. Get better at reading and writing. Learn how to manage your mind with a life coach. Never stop pushing yourself forward.
There’s always places you can grow. If you want a growth mindset, constantly push yourself to develop your intelligence and abilities.
Do Some Self Reflection
Do a little self reflection to learn about yourself. It’s really hard to grow if you have no clue where you’re trying to grow from.
Self reflection is an amazing tool for growth.
When you learn about yourself you’re going to see where you’ve overcome obstacles. You’re going to see times you’ve had massive breakthroughs. You’re going to figure out what your goals are. And you’re going to figure out what you value the most. You’re going to develop your moral character.
Once you have an idea of who you are, you can figure out where you want to be. Where do you see yourself in the future?
Self reflect so you can learn who you are and who you want to become.
Align Your Decisions With Your Future Self
Learn to make your decisions with your future self. When you make decisions, ask yourself “would the best version of me do this?”
When you align with the best version of yourself, you’re creating results. You’re going to show up as the best you you can be.
Visualize the best version of yourself. Make decisions that grow you in that direction.
If your mindset is that you can always keep growing, you’re going to grow. But if your mindset is that you have fixed traits, you’re going to be stuck.
If you’re stuck, future you is going to be the same you that you are now.
When you align your decisions with the best version of you there could be, that is what you’re going to create.
Rewrite Your Past To Serve Your Future
Take the time to rewrite your past so it benefits you.
Your past is over and gone. You can’t change any of it. It already happened. The past now only exists as thoughts inside of your head. That’s all it is.
You can’t change the past, but you can change your thoughts about the past. You don’t need to have a victim mentality about what the past did to you. Instead, you can choose to view it as what it did for you.
What happened in the past that got you where you are now?
What were some times you thought were setbacks, but turned out to be a set ups? And;
What was something that happened that you thought was bad, but turned out to actually be the best case scenario?
You can’t go back and redo what you did, but you don’t have to beat yourself up over it either. Rewrite your past so it serves you in the present.
Intentionally Decide What You Want To Believe
Choose to be intentional about what you believe. You have complete control over what you think. And you can decide the kind of future you want to create.
You may not have control over all of your circumstances. But you can decide what you believe about your circumstances.
Become aware of what you’re thinking. If your thoughts aren’t benefiting your future, change them.
After you change your thoughts, go all in with believing that they’re true. When you do this, you’re creating the results. You’re already becoming who you want to be.
Be intentional with your thoughts and choices. Choose to have beliefs that help you grow and become the best you.
Be Consistent And Flexible
Always make it a goal to be consistent and flexible. You don’t have control over everything around you. But don’t let that be an excuse to give up.
Choose to take massive action. Be committed to your goals. When something doesn’t work out, try something different.
This is an amazing tool to get results. When you keep working towards something, you’ll eventually get there. Use failures as a catalyst to do something new. Have a plan in mind, but be open to change. Choose to never give up.
A person with a growth mindset stays persistent when they face troubles. They use their stress to their advantage.
Develop A Growth Mindset For Your Work Environment
You can also apply a growth mindset to your work environment. Your mindset will affect how you are as an employee, a boss, or a business owner. The amount of intelligence you have will impact your performance.
When you focus on learning, you’re going to have more success. Those who have a fixed mindset aren’t going to reach their full potential.
The views you adopt about your mindset are going to determine the level of success you have.
Choose to have a growth mindset. Don’t let anything hold you back. Never stop learning. Future you is going to be so grateful for it.
A Final Note
A growth mindset is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.
When you’re willing to grow and challenge your current results, you expand your mind and increase your experiences in life.
On top of that, you learn to enjoy the process and have so much more success this way.
While some of us are just naturally more growth or fixed mindset oriented, remember you can always change if you want to.
