Before I elaborate too much on teaching the “Growth Mindset” I would like to explain what it is and why it is useful. When I say “mindset” I am referring to our mental attitudes towards something. In her book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,” Stanford University researcher, Carol S. Dweck, PH.D. shares her 30+ years of research on achievement and success. What she found is that how you think about things (like intelligence and talent) is very important to reaching one’s potential.
People generally fit into two categories: “Growth Mindset,” which believes that things such as talent and intelligence are developed through effort and hard work; and “Fixed Mindset,” which believes that intelligence and skill are something you are born with. Someone with the Fixed Mindset may say “some people are smart while others are not,” or “that kid is a natural at soccer.” Someone with the Growth Mindset may say, “I learned that new skill through practice and hard work,” or “I got better at soccer through the struggle of failing and fixing.”
The problem with a Fixed Mindset is that if you are born smart, what happens when you are faced with learning new things that are difficult? Are you suddenly not as smart or as good anymore? This is why people with the Fixed Mindset tend to shy away from challenges and learning new things.
Because of the way that people with a Growth Mindset view the process of learning, they are more willing to take on the challenge of learning new and difficult things. This is a requirement for top level success in many areas.
The good news, just like character, mindset is malleable. We can have a Fixed Mindset regarding some areas of our life while having a Growth Mindset in others. The goal should be to always have a Growth mindset and there are ways to develop this. As parents, we can play a major role in what mindset our children adapt by our encouragement, praise and feedback. I elaborate how we can teach the Growth Mindset in my post, “Promoting Proper Self Esteem.”
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