Game, Mindset, Match
MINDSET◦ mentality: a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations
The way we frame our experiences can either serve us, or defeat us at the outset. Our mindset is always the game-changer.
Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, states in her book Mindset - the Psychology of Success - that we all fall into one of two camps - a fixed or growth mindset. Those with a fixed-mindset believe that our skills, talents and traits are largely fixed. That we all have our specialties, and if something happens to fall outside that skill-set - well that’s someone else's department.
That makes sense, but only to a point. They mistakenly believe talent alone creates success, and avoid anything they feel they don't have an aptitude for.
I'm not good at maths
I never remember names.
I can't play tennis.
For those with a fixed mindset, these become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Quick to dismiss anything and everything that might fall outside their beliefs about who they are - their identity.
[Note, this is a helpful clue as to to how effective this link to identity can be, if we are just able to harness it to our own means.]
Of course any of these statements could equally apply to someone of a growth-mindset. But here they are viewed as an opportunity. In this instance, any innate talents and abilities - or lack of them are merely a starting point.
Those with a fixed mindset are interested only in displaying their strengths, further confirming their brilliance, and are reluctant to participate in any endeavor in which they can't immediately shine. Superstar or spectator, no middle-ground.
The growth mindset seeks out these challenges, seeing them as opportunities for development and is quite happy to look like a novice if it helps to further their horizons. It's just part of the process.
Our lives can be fenced off, bound at the source by our intention. Before any experience. Any form of learning; any degree of personal development outside your current skill-set, any intended shift outside the box in which you presently reside, relies on a growth-mindset.
If we are never prepared to fail then we can never learn. The obvious flip-side of which is that we are condemned to live with what we know already. No more wonder. No more novelty.
So, if you happen to have to have ticked all of life's boxes, are not cursed with ambition and feel you have not just succeeded in every field of interest; but dominated - feel free to retire to your trophy room to write your memoirs.
If, on the other hand you think this fixed-mindset thingy is ringing a few bells and yet you wouldn't mind learning a thing or two - what then?
Well, luckily then this fixed-mindset thingy is not.... errr
Fixed.
In fact, just to kick this whole learning thing off, have a crack at this:
Neuroplasticity:
The ability of the brain to reorganise itself and create new circuits in response to our environment and most remarkably in response to our thoughts.
Now if that doesn’t look suspiciously like a ticket outta this whole ‘fixed’ deal, then I don’t know what does - how good is learning!
So there are a few things we can do in order to help cultivate this growth-mindset and, as usual, step one is simple awareness:
Be aware of the stories you tell yourself, being hyper-vigilant for that 'fixed mindset' shut-down.
Recognise you always have a choice. We may not be able to change the situation but we control our interpretation of it, and subsequently our response.
Switch your internal dialogue from judgement, to one of growth. If you must use the word 'can't', qualify it with the word 'yet'.
Additionally, look for ways to challenge yourself. You don’t have to look far and can start by brushing your teeth using your other hand.
Sometimes it's good to actually have a reason to look stupid.
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