There are two kinds of mindsets you should be aware of on your road to self-improvement. In order to understand the advantages of a growth mindset over a fixed mindset, you need to understand the differences between them both.
Your mind is such a powerful tool, that even something as simple as your mindset can change your perspective and outlook on things. If you aren’t careful, this can easily hinder your growth.
Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck, relates in her insightful book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, there are two types of mindsets: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. These mindsets are what we consider our personality.
Many people don’t know the difference between these two mindsets. In this article, we’ll be talking about the advantages of a growth mindset over a fixed mindset in certain situations.
What is a growth mindset?
In order to adopt a growth mindset; you have to understand what a growth mindset is. A growth mindset is the belief that you are in control of your own ability, and can learn and improve.
People with a growth mindset believe they can become smarter, that their efforts affect their success and with persistence they can learn.
Those with a growth mindset believe their basic ability is only the starting point for their true potential. Their growth mindset creates a passion for learning rather than a constant need for approval.
Some common growth mindset thoughts include:
- I can always become better at something through practice.
- I can learn whatever I want or need to, exactly when I need to learn it.
- I see failures as opportunities to learn, to reassess, and to do better next time.
- I can always do better at something if I want to, but it will take effort.
- Determination and effort are the measures of my outcomes
- I enjoy learning and growing, and learning is a lifetime pursuit for me.
There are key differences between a growth and a fixed mindset. Attitude to a challenge is one of them. A person with a fixed mindset will shy away from a challenge; often from fear of failure. They may go into hiding to avoid responsibilities.
The growth mindset person is excited by challenges. They find them engaging and a key in learning something valuable from the experiences. They master the challenge and move on to greater accomplishments.
Another key difference is in how each faces mistakes and feedback. A person with a fixed mindset is embarrassed by making mistakes. They blame others or become defensive when criticized.
The growth mindset person sees mistakes as a learning lesson. They are less likely to take criticism personally. They are open to criticism believing it helps improve their ability to do better next time.
4 Advantages Of A Growth Mindset
Advantages Of A Growth Mindset 1. You learn more
When you have a growth mindset, you don’t shirk from your failures and mistakes but instead, you do everything you can to learn from them.
You know that mistakes are the only way you can learn from negative experiences and by running away from them, you also run away from the opportunity to grow and learn.
Having a growth mindset means that you have the awareness to know that you don’t know everything – and you’re perfectly okay with that.
For instance, if you make a mistake at work, you use this as a stepping stone to becoming better for the next time around.
Advantages Of A Growth Mindset 2. You’re always moving forward
Since you’re focused on opportunities that can make you grow and unleash your best potential, you’re always moving forward in life. You take advantage of challenges and setbacks that you face and you do everything you can to improve.
Whether it’s creating new goals or aligning your priorities, you know exactly where you’re headed. You don’t just wander through life without any sense of direction and purpose, but you set an intention in where you’re going.
For instance, you’re intent on achieving your goal of becoming a successful writer, and every decision you make is aligned with that goal. Attending creative writing classes will enable you to meet other aspiring or even successful writers.
Advantages Of A Growth Mindset 3. You listen to all types of feedback
As someone with a growth mindset, you’re open to constructive criticism. So when someone provides revisions and negative feedback on your work, you take note of this so you know which aspects to work on. You know that you’re not perfect and pretending you are is a big mistake.
Whenever someone gives you any type of feedback, you use it as a motivation to improve yourself and work on the parts that need more effort.
For instance, if your boss negatively criticizes your work, take it onboard. They may not even be right, but the simple process of analysis can help you to do your best and avoid repeating any mistakes next time.
Advantages Of A Growth Mindset 4. You’re self-aware
Having a growth mindset means you know the significant aspects of yourself, including your flaws and shortcomings. You don’t try to act like you know everything because you know you don’t.
You’ve come to terms that you’re not always the best person in the room, which also means that you’ll take advantage of learning from people who are wiser and better than you.
For instance, if someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer to it, you’re self-aware enough, to be honest about it and find ways to learn more about the things you don’t know.
You shouldn’t also blame yourself for having a fixed mindset because at the end of the day, you can always adjust your mindset and change it to a growth mindset.
Your mind is very powerful but that doesn’t mean that you can’t choose which mindset to have.
