Your mindset controls your life.
The results in your life, or the lack thereof, directly reflect your mind. Your thoughts become your actions, your actions become your habits, and your habits shape your life. “As a man thinks, so is he”.
Working in the creative space, results are very tangible, and a person’s creativity can be assessed based on the quality of their creations. I often come across creatives whose works I admire, and I wonder how they manage to weave such artistic masterpieces. They have to be geniuses with some specially endowed gifts only a few are privileged to possess, and maybe I’m not just one of them.
I recently picked up Carol Dweck’s “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, and now I see things differently*.*
In her book, Dr. Dweck described two mindsets – the fixed and the growth mindsets.
Simply put, the fixed mindset leans towards the belief that we possess predetermined potential and abilities, and there’s not much we can do about it. On the other hand, the growth mindset believes that skills and qualities can be cultivated if approached correctly.
The big question now is, what mindset do you have?
Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset
How can we differentiate between the fixed mindset and the growth mindset?
- The fixed mindset believes in the inherence of abilities –you either have it or you don’t. In the fixed mindset, ability is rated by the absence of effort in execution. If it’s really your thing, you should be able to execute seamlessly. The growth mindset argues that skills can be acquired through strategic effort. At the core of the growth mindset is the idea that everyone can change and grow. It might not come easy initially, but you can learn to be a pro through application and experience.
- The fixed mindset group is risk-averse and reluctant to take on new challenges. This group sticks to what’s familiar and guaranteed. If the challenge is beyond their area of immediate proficiency, they quickly lose interest. On the other hand, those with a growth mindset are always searching for opportunities to challenge themselves. This group consists of lifelong learners who love to explore new things beyond what they already know.
- The fixed mindset is afraid of making mistakes. In the fixed mindset, failure is the worst thing that can happen to a person – it is proof of inability and a stigma to be avoided. They believe it is better not to try at all than to try and fail. People with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to learn something new. Failure doesn’t define them; it only serves as a way to discover areas that must be worked upon to succeed. When they fall or make mistakes, they get up and try again.
- Those with a fixed mindset constantly seek validation from others. They don’t do so well with any form of criticism, and a negative remark on their work is interpreted as an attack on their person. The growth mindset welcomes constructive criticism. They are eager to know what they can improve for a better performance.
Why You Need To Adopt The Growth Mindset
Upon stumbling upon the concepts in Dr. Dweck’s book, I soon realized that I had been functioning with a fixed mindset all along. I believed that those “superstars” I admire were more gifted than I am, and there isn’t much I can do about that. I also avoided challenges beyond my comfort zone and feared failure.
I also realized this mindset was hindering my progress and limiting my potential.
Having the right mindset is crucial for success in any field. Unfortunately, most people operate with the wrong mindset by default and wonder why they don’t get the desired results. Adopting a growth mindset conditions you to seek out learning opportunities. It allows you to be comfortable being a beginner and working your way into mastery.