Basically, there are two kinds of mind-set: Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset
Have you heard this story shared by Shawn Achor in his TEDx talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work”?
“A little girl falls from her bunk bed and lands hard on the floor. She might have broken her leg, and she’s in tremendous pain. As she is about to cry, her quick-thinking older brother tells her that no human could possibly have landed the way that she did when she hit the floor, and that can only mean one thing: she’s a unicorn.
Rather than giving in to the pain, the little girl’s brain begins to process the concept that she might actually be a baby unicorn…”
This story is an example of how re-framing your circumstances can allow you to achieve a positive happier mindset.
People with a fixed mindset tend to be less curious and resist change.
They adhere to time-worn routines and opinions which means they take the path of least resistance within the boundaries of their comfort zone. They are less open to learning or new experiences. They shun new ideas that conflict with their long-standing thinking. When they stop asking questions or being interested in life, their fear zone expands and takes over their growth zone.
A rigid sense of self negatively affects their mental health and vigor.
People with a rigid sense of self judge old notions to be part of their individual identity. They do not approach their limitations as an opportunity to develop. They do not see a setback as an invitation to do better next time. They end up feeling constricted and stifled – basically frustrated. They end up putting their energies into things that do not make them thrive.
Neuroplasticity refers to your brain’s ongoing ability to adapt and develop.
Neuroplasticity provides scientific proof that your intelligence is not fixed, it develops throughout your life. You make new connections and pathways on a daily basis as you adapt to new circumstances. When you learn something new, you change and expand how the circuits in your brain are wired. These are physiological changes. The extent to which you can expand your mind and abilities is unknown. Every limit, you thought you might have, can be exceeded time and time again.
For more than two decades Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck has studied mind-set and the power of mankind’s beliefs. She set out to prove that intelligence and personality can be developed rather than being immutably engrained traits. Her research has shown how changing even the simplest of beliefs can have profound impact on nearly every aspect of a person’s life. She states that a growth mindset creates a passion for learning.
“Stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”
There are many reasons why you may not achieve what you set out to do. Life has twists and turns, external forces, circumstances, physiological influences, the people (and distractions) you meet along the way. Many of those may be beyond your control. However, you can control how you think about these twists and turns – you can control your mindset.
Emphasize growth over speed:
Learning fast isn’t the same as learning well, and learning well sometimes requires allowing time for practice and even learning from the missteps you may make in the process.
Replace negative self-talk with growth related words:
Instead of using the words “failing” or “ mistake” replace them with words like learning, brain training, growth, improvement, judgment adjustment, or brain fart (why not laugh a little, at the same time).
Add the magic word “yet” to the end of negative statements that include phrases that suggest impossibilities, such as “I can’t”. I cannot build a website by myself, yet. I have not learned to skydive, yet. I haven’t master the art of public speaking. yet.
Think of stress as a provider of energy:
Physiologically, there’s no difference between anxiety and excitement. Both involve a ‘stress response.’ It is how you perceived or label it as positive or negative that matters. Our society tends to perceive stress as negative. Not all stress is harmful. Stress provides energy that you need to work under pressure, go on a first date, get through a speech, or step out of your comfort zone.
Boost your brain power:
Learn more about your brain and how it works and grows. Care for your brain much the same way that you might work out in the gym to keep your body fit or take your vehicle in for a tune-up. Keeping your body healthy, nourished and exercised is important in keeping your brain mentally alert and fit, prepared for amazing feats of learning, discovery – being smart. Through callisthenics for the mind, you challenge your brains in unexpected ways, and utilize all your senses to stretch the boundaries of learning and experience.
Work with your body’s natural ebbs and flows:
Your body’s energy has its own path. You are naturally more energetic and motivated at specific times of the day. Work with it.
Choose the right role models:
Take inspiration from leaders and innovators. Surround yourself with people who are smart, genuine, diverse, give you good feedback, have fascinating conversations,
Focus on learning:
Age should not alter your enthusiasm for learning, and it is never too late to awaken another part of your mind to develop any of your best strengths and boost any of the many strengths that have been underdeveloped to better align your abilities.
Learning takes time and time is a rare asset, which provokes many people to rush through the learning process, which is ineffective. These 4 key strengths help you to have staying power when learning is difficult.
If you are keen for self-learning you want to get the most from your experience, including satisfaction and quality education. Take charge because your achievements may be hinged on these 12 key factors.
Your brain has a soft spot for the comfort zone but it is designed for complexity and thrives on anything new, different, or difficult. It is edging for that extra push to reach its peak performance zone.
Use "SWOT" to identify your unique personal strengths and determine the workable strategies for your career development. It's a confidence builder and way to affirm you are on the right path.
Inspiration can strike when you least expect it, but that is an inefficient way to develop an idea or approach decision-making and problem solving. Instead, try one of these easy individual brainstorming techniques.
Curiosity can be learned and fine-tuned. The more curious you are about a subject, the greater the stamina of your concentration will be. Your curiosity leads you to ask smarter questions, inspire others, solve problems.
