Today we will be discussing why is a growth mindset important and some ways to develop one.
Having a “growth mindset” has never been more important than now. The world is changing at an incredibly fast pace, and there are new challenges we must face every day.
Our way of life is changing, norms are changing, and we must keep up and adjust to all of these changes. This is why having a growth mindset is so necessary.
“Growth Mindset” is a term you often hear within the world of education, especially when looking for ways to improve academically. But what exactly does it mean, and why is it so important to have a “Growth Mindset?”
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Why is a Growth Mindset Important? – Ultimate Guide!
I while ago, I came across the research of Professor Carol Dweck about how our Mindsets have a massive impact on motivation and, in particular, our motivation to learn new things.
Recent neuroscience has revealed some astonishing revelations about how our brains can be altered to shape intelligence.
The beliefs we hold about our intelligence can greatly impact on the language and behaviour we exhibit on a day-to-day basis.
If these beliefs are rooted in out-dated notions that the brain is static and does not change (what we are born with is our lot), this can greatly impinge on what we are able to achieve in life and how we think about ourselves.
From Dweck’s findings, she coined the terms Fixed and Growth Mindset. We are all a mixture of both. As the names suggest, a Fixed Mindset stems from the belief that the intelligence you are born with is fixed and cannot change, what you are born with is what you have.
A Growth Mindset stems from the idea that intelligence can be grown as a result of specific, targeted actions of which we are in control. This is where the Mindset training becomes a tool of self-regulation and can help children to see the reasons behind taking particular actions for their learning.
Having a Growth Mindset is about progress and change. It focuses on the reasons why this action may not occur and what we can do to change that.
It goes without saying that everyone, not just professionals, should strive for a growth mindset. You have the power to climb mountains, brave storms, and ride the waves!
Now, let’s kick fixed mindset out and start developing a growth mindset!
Why is growth mindset important?
Implementing a growth mindset is important because:
- It supports the development of resilience
- It supports self-regulation
- It helps us to recognise the importance of challenge, struggle, mistakes and failure in learning and innovation
- It provides a means by which to tackle mental health issues which stem from a lack of belief in one’s self and one’s abilities
- It supports the cultivation of creativity
- It helps us to find courage and motivation which creates progress
- It helps us to achieve more
- It helps us to be happier and more satisfied
10 ways to develop a growth mindset
Now that you have an idea of what a growth mindset is, let’s dig a little deeper. We have compiled 10 techniques to help you unlock the growth mindset part of your brain. Let’s get started!
Reflect
Take time to acknowledge, reflect, and embrace all your failures. Becoming aware of your areas of improvement is the stepping stone in cultivating a growth mindset. Sweeping your weaknesses under the rug will only inhibit your ability to reach success.
Find your purpose
In a growth mindset TED Talk led by Charlotte Barber, the young speaker explains how fostering a “growth mindset with a strong purpose and a toned resilience muscle, you’ll find that there are always other ways to achieve your goals.” We agree. Take time to reflect and find your purpose.
Take on challenges
Part of developing a growth mindset is shattering the negative perception of a challenge. Embrace challenges and view them as fruitful learning experiences that you would not get otherwise.
Elbert Hubbard once said, “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make a mistake.”
Foster grit
Grit is the ability to persevere through obstacles in order to reach a meaningful end-goal. Hold on to grit. It gives that internal push to keep moving forward and fulfil your commitments.
Incorporate “yet”
Integrating the word yet into your vocabulary signals that despite any struggles, you can overcome anything. It’s a matter of time and little effort. Practicing growth mindset activities like yet starts shifting that fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
Write down goals
Growth mindset people are aware that once one goal is down, they have others lined up to pursue. Create clear, realistic goals based on your passion and purpose. And be sure to give yourself enough time to conquer them thoroughly.
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Alter your attitude
Fixed mindsets tend to harbour negative, pessimistic, and no-can-do attitudes. Kick those thoughts out now. The power of positive, optimistic thinking can instantly shift your mood that not only inspires you but others around you as well.
Ask for constructive feedback
A growth mindset proactively sources out feedback from peers, friends, and leadership. It’s a chance to find lessons, learn from mistakes, and place efforts into skills that will help in the long run.
Practice mindfulness/meditation
Mental and physical activities are another piece of the growth mindset formula. Mediation, walking, or even stretching allows you to focus on the present moment, mediate on your surroundings, and brings clarity to a cloudy mind.
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Appreciate the journey
An important factor when building a growth mindset is seeing the value in your journey. When you are fixated on the outcome, you miss out on valuable learning moments that can improve your professional development overall. A growth mindset sees beauty in struggling.
Why is a Growth Mindset Important? – Final thoughts
Developing a growth mindset isn’t an easy task but is definitely worth the time and effort. By adapting one is not only a better way to learn but also a better way to life live.
In order to develop a growth mindset, you must change your perspective and cultivate self-acceptance, as approval from others and fear of embarrassment can prevent a growth mindset.
While learning something new, view challenges as opportunities to grow, and view errors or mistakes as lessons learned.
Try to redefine what failure means to you, and remember that patience is key.
I would love to hear your thoughts on what you are doing to change your life in the coming days and years!
If you have any questions please reach out to me via adam@adam-lawrence.org. I would love to hear from you!
I really hope you found inspiration in this article.
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Hello! My name is Adam and welcome to my space on the internet. Here you can find me writing about subjects such as spiritual growth, self-discovery, wellbeing, addiction recovery and mental health. Please connect with me on my journey and join the community!
