The Growth Mindset
1 min read
One of the best ways to foster resilience is to develop a growth mindset. According to psychologist Carol Dweck, we have two main mindsets when approaching new challenges: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
Fixed mindset
“In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.”
Growth mindset
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
Our brains are in a constant state of change. Each day as we move throughout the world, our brains form new connections and rewire its structure. This means that your cognitive abilities are not fixed – you have the ability to continuously learn new information and adapt to new situations. This is what is meant by the scientific concept of neuroplasticity, we are neurobiologically resilient!
To develop a growth mindset, Dr. Dweck has created 15 strategies to remember:
- Remember neuroplasticity: Your brain’s structure is not fixed
- Appreciate the process over the results
- Acknowledge your weaknesses
- Cultivate your sense of purpose – your “why”
- Don’t say failing, say learning. Shift your vision of failure; mistakes are opportunities to learn
- Value effort over talent. Refer to Malcom Gladwell’s idea that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. The most successful people had to put in the work.
- Consider challenges as opportunities
- Place growth before speed. Learning takes time
- Do not chase other people’s approval
- View criticism as a gift
- Celebrate actions, not attributes
- Grow with others
- Take time to reflect. Use techniques such as journaling to reflect on your personal growth
- Cultivate (productive) perseverance!
- Use the “not yet” technique. This is a great way to reframe your thought process. “When you’re struggling, just remind yourself that you haven’t mastered that skill… yet.”
Being open to growth is one of the best ways to embrace resilience!
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please take a look at these resources and help lines.
About The Author
Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal
Dr. Taryn Marie is a foremost international expert on resilience, in both leadership and life. She is the former Head of Executive Leadership Development at Nike, Global Leadership Development at Cigna, and founded Resilience Leadership, where she serves as the Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), leveraging over a decade of research on resilience, that gave birth to the empirically-based framework, The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People, leveraged for optimal sustainability, productivity, and creativity.
Twitter:drtarynmarie
