The Fixed and Growth Mindset: Evolve Into A Woman You Love

In her 2007 book, Mindset, renowned Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck says that, "It's not intelligence, talent or education that sets successful people apart. It's their mindset or the way that they approach life's challenges.” According to Dweck, there are two types of mindsets, the fixed and the growth mindset. The fixed mindset exposes a static belief in yourself: your intelligence, your abilities, and all that makes up who you are as a person. One who has a fixed mindset feels as if their life is planned out for them, and their distinct skills can’t be changed. Those with a growth mindset believe that through determination and hard work they can shift their perspective and naturally develop their abilities with a positive attitude. With these two mindsets in mind, which do you identify with?

Identifying Your Mindset

It is important to understand and identify the different types of mindsets in order to live your life to the fullest. Carol Dweck states, “People either have a fixed or a growth mindset, and the one that you adopt can affect every aspect of your life.” People adopt either of these two very different mindsets early on in life, impacting their life greatly. Adopting the fixed mindset can hold you back in every aspect of your life while adopting a growth mindset can help you achieve your goals.

There is a distinct duality between the two types of mindsets. For the fixed mindset it is about avoidance, and for the growth mindset, it is about embracing the challenges that lie before you. Modern science recognizes today’s belief system and how individual strength and potential will feed our behavior and can predict our success - which is why mindset is so important. 

One of our greatest fundamental beliefs in ourselves is how we observe and inhabit what we consider our dispositions to be. A fixed mindset has the belief that our intelligence is inherent and no matter our efforts we can’t change the way we are. The growth mindset thrives off of the challenge to change and evolve our very being. Failure is not seen in a negative context, instead, it shows that our intelligence is malleable which is more of a reason to try harder when facing obstacles.

At an early age, our behavior is affected greatly by our environment which perpetuates the different mindsets. From these two mindsets, we see that our behavior not only affects our perspectives but can determine the views and opinions we adopt throughout our lifetime. Our relationship with progress and frustration both professionally and individually will ultimately affect our happiness. 

What A Growth Mindset Can Do

“At the heart of what makes the “growth mindset” so winsome, Dweck found, is that it creates a passion for learning rather than a hunger for approval.” The growth mindset, the embodiment of positivity, illustrates that the human capacity for love, creativity, kindness, and intelligence can be fostered through learning and striving for your goals. People who have adopted this mindset are not discouraged by failure but instead fueled by it to do better. 

Choosing A Mindset That Works For You

No matter what mindset you have adopted early on, you can always strive to better yourself with a change in perspective. Dweck explains, “The key difference between the two mindsets — for those with a growth one, personal success is when you work your hardest to become your best, whereas, for those with a fixed one, success is about establishing their superiority, pure and simple. Being that somebody who is worthier than the nobodies.” Determine which mindset you have and determine the best path appropriate for you. You choose how you want to perceive the world around you. Be the best person you can be for yourself.

Pinterest Inspiration

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What do you practice for mindset growth? Comment below!