Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset: The Key to Unlock Success
- J.Lonya Ononiwu
- Jun 20, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 29, 2024
Is cultivating a growth mindset a quick fix? Absolutely not. It means creating a revolution in your mind: one that overthrows limiting and self-sabotaging beliefs and replaces them with strategies that inspire success.
What Is a Fixed Mindset?
Stanford professor Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed versus growth mindsets in her book Mindset.
A fixed mindset is characterized by the following:
Believing you are either good at something or you aren’t
Feeling like your qualities are set and cannot be changed
Seeing challenges as threats
Tending to give up easily
Being unreceptive to constructive criticism or feedback
Before coming down on yourself for having a fixed mindset, consider this: our attitudes develop very early on. And we don’t pull these ideas out of thin air. Most likely, our perception was fed by the adults around us: how they spoke about us, our abilities, our intelligence, etc
What Is a Growth Mindset?
With a growth mindset, the individual gets to experience more freedom, flexibility, and fun. That’s because they don’t see things as fixed; they see them as full of potential.
A growth mindset is characterized by the following:
Understanding that effort is needed to master new skills
Expressing a desire to learn and grow
Being able to celebrate the successes of others
Accepting and using criticism to their advantage
Embracing challenges and persevering beyond failures
If you see yourself as having a growth mindset, that’s amazing. Read on to understand how you can use it to your advantage! If you think you have more of a fixed mindset, don’t despair. The great thing about a fixed mindset is that it isn’t fixed!
Can We Really Change Our Minds?
Science says yes! Neuroplasticity tells us that the neural networks in our brain can change through growth and reorganization. In other words, it’s never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks!
Your brain CAN be rewired to function differently, which means nothing is fixed: not our personality, our beliefs, our habits, or our mindset. Below are a few ways to cultivate a growth mindset and change your mind for good.
Seek New Challenges
If you have a fixed mindset, new challenges might feel like opportunities to fail, be exposed, or experience unnecessary disappointment. But going into new arenas or tasks with this perspective can poison the entire experience.
Though it might initially feel unnatural, try telling yourself an alternate story about new challenges. For example, “This will help me grow, expand, and step out of my comfort zone. Regardless of the outcome, that makes it a win for me.”
Change How You View Criticism
Instead of seeing criticism as an insult, try seeing it as an opportunity. It can be annoying to think of everyone as our teacher, but that doesn’t mean it’s untrue! Even if someone’s intention is less than noble, it’s up to you how you process and respond (or don’t respond!) to their criticism.
Be Inspired by the Success of Others
Imagine being depressed and discouraged every time you hear a story of someone else’s success. Now, imagine being the kind of person who became more inspired, motivated, and determined every time they saw success. These two individuals will lead very different lives. And it’s not hard to guess which will be more healthy, energized, and productive. A scarcity mindset tells us that another person’s advancement threatens our own. But that’s a lie that holds us down, holds us back, and robs us of the joy of celebrating with others.
How a Growth Mindset Leads to Success
A growth mindset understands that intelligence and talent can be improved. Since these things are indisputably proven and true, adopting a growth mindset is more than positive thinking–it’s clear thinking.
Cultivating a growth mindset in your life can:
Help you take inspiration from the advancement and promotion of other people
Cause you to see yourself as an ever-evolving, ever-improving entity
Generate massive amounts of enthusiasm and momentum you never had before
Strengthen your resolve and resilience so you feel more courageous and capable
Reduce your dread and anxiety by helping you reframe challenges, criticism, and failure
Our beliefs, thought patterns, and personalities can feel fixed. But that’s because we’ve been living with them for decades. Familiar doesn’t equal fixed! Neuroplasticity teaches that we can rewire our brains, even in adulthood.
While that might sound complex, it’s actually quite simple. You can change your mind and mindset by seeking new challenges, reframing criticism, and seeing others’ success as an inspiration instead of a threat. Now that’s what I call growth!
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