Growth Mindset
Psychologist Carol Dweck discovered that beliefs about intelligence profoundly affect learning and achievement.
Two Mindsets
- Intelligence and talent are fixed traits
- You either "have it" or you don't
- Failure reveals your limitations
- Effort is for people without talent
- Challenges are threats to self-image
- Intelligence and abilities can be developed
- The brain is like a muscle — it grows with use
- Failure is information for improvement
- Effort is the path to mastery
- Challenges are opportunities to grow
How Mindset Affects Behavior
- Fixed: Avoids challenges to protect self-image
- Growth: Embraces challenges as growth opportunities
- Fixed: "I'm not smart enough"
- Growth: "I haven't figured this out yet"
- Fixed: Defensive, ignores feedback
- Growth: Learns from criticism
- Fixed: Feels threatened
- Growth: Learns from others' success
The Power of "Yet"
- "I can't do calculus" → "I can't do calculus yet"
- "I'm not good at writing" → "I'm not good at writing yet"
This small word opens possibility.
Developing Growth Mindset
- Notice fixed-mindset triggers. What makes you feel defensive or inadequate?
- Reframe challenges. This is hard because I'm learning, not because I'm inadequate.
- Praise process, not talent. "You worked really hard" beats "You're so smart."
- View effort positively. Effort isn't proof of inadequacy — it's the path to improvement.
- Learn from failure. Ask "What can I learn?" not "What does this say about me?"
Caveats
- Effort alone isn't enough — strategy matters
- Natural aptitude exists — but it's a starting point, not a ceiling
- Praising effort without results can backfire
Mindset matters, but so do methods and opportunities.
Related Reading
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