The Right Mindset

           Our mindsets can have a tremendous impact on how successful we will be in all areas of our lives. On the other hand, it also has the potential to be detrimental to our learning and personal growth. In the workshop “Growth Mindset is Key”, we identified the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and the impact of having a growth mindset.

            Based on the work of Carol Dweck we identified the mindset extremes of the two different mindset types. The first was how you view challenges. If you have a fixed mindset you would prefer to avoid challenges, while growth mindset persons will embrace a challenge.  This means you can take on challenges and look at them as an opportunity to grow.

            The second was obstacles and can be closely related to challenges. With obstacles you can either give up, or embrace them.  Again this is the difference in seeing this as an opportunity to grow or to simply give up.  I shared my experience with my soccer team in high school.  I had spent 3 years on the bench as the third string goalie only to meet my senior year being at the top to be crushed by a foreign exchange student taking it away from me. I spent extras hours before and after practice to improve and was finally the starting keeper. After I missed one game my coach let me know I wasn’t to going to be in the game by taking me off the roster without any warning. Looking back I shouldn’t have given up on the obstacle, but I did.  I argued with my coach and ended up quitting the team - I still beat myself up for it.

            The next three were effort, criticism, and success of others.  Effort can be defined in many ways, but it is an action more than anything.  A growth mindset will see effort as crucial instead of useless. Criticism is learned from instead of ignored and can contribute to their success. We discussed how criticism is often misunderstood or presented in the wrong way.  The success of others will either inspire or threaten; a person with a growth mindset will be inspired.

            We explored areas and situations where we saw ourselves with either a fixed or growth mindset.  It was clear the difference it would make to have a growth mindset and how limiting it can be to be fixed.  This is going to be most useful with our students next semester in helping them with their personal growth.  Encouraging them to have a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset.  If we can set an example of embracing challenges, being persistent through obstacles, seeing effort as crucial, learn from criticism, and be inspired by others success, we will be more likely to make a difference. 

~Easten