Do you often feel that your life is filled with insurmountable challenges or that you’re stuck with a negative mindset that’s hindering your personal and professional growth? Improving the quality of your thinking by developing a growth mindset can be THE key to unlocking your potential and achieving success in various aspects of your life. Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. That means you aren’t stuck in your current level of knowledge or expertise, but instead possess the ability to develop any skill or succeed at whatever it is you desire – seriously! In this blog, we’ll explore 7 practical ways to foster and cultivate a growth mindset so you can be on your way to fueling progress towards whatever it is you’re dreaming about.
Embrace Challenges
Do hard things on the regular! OK, so that’s way easier said than done, but the term “Hard Things” encompasses anything you know you ‘should’ do but don’t want to. If it’s a task your mind is fighting you about executing, it can be labeled a Hard Thing because it requires extra effort to follow through. There can be a number of reasons why your brain doesn’t want you to venture out, but the most common is fear (of discomfort, failure, rejection, humiliation, etc.) So let’s flip the script– instead of avoiding action and fearing failure to stay safe and comfortable, view fearful action as necessary for growth. When you embrace challenges, you develop resilience and become more adaptable; try viewing challenges as flexing a weak muscle repeatedly until it grows and becomes strong. The work won’t be easy (or comfortable!) but the dedicated work will pay off in the end and you will be amazed at where your progress takes you. Try this- identify an area of your life you want to improve, and then brainstorm ways you can intentionally exercise this area daily. Try to name 1-3 daily actions or ‘challenges’ you can take on to improve in this area and then commit to executing them daily for 7 days. At the end of the week evaluate your progress and either continue or modify your daily actions to continue making progress.
Develop a Passion for Learning
Cultivating a growth mindset involves nurturing a passion for learning and constantly seeking to expand your mind. What new knowledge, skills, or experiences will keep your mind engaged and interested, and increase value and fulfillment in your life? Start with things that merely interest you or that you’ve always wondered about. Branch out to learning useful skills that can improve your life in some way. Learning will unlock new possibilities and take you from stagnancy and boredom to excitement and interest. Read books, take courses, listen to podcasts, research opposing ideals, and engage in conversations with people from diverse backgrounds. The more you use your brain to learn and grow, the more you’ll improve your brain functioning and health and expand your perception of what’s possible for you.
Emphasize Effort Over Talent
Shift your focus from innate talent to the effort you put into your endeavors. Recognize that effort is a key factor in achieving success, regardless of how fruitful it is initially (effort doesn’t always equal success right away!) Innate talent may exist to SOME degree, but what you focus on expands and with consistency, you can literally create new capabilities from the ground up. When you prioritize hard work and dedication, you’ll be more inclined to persevere through challenges and setbacks, ultimately leading to the growth and improvement of your skillset. Consistency is key, so if you can learn to keep up with your efforts, you will eventually become an expert!
Embrace Setbacks and Mistakes
Mistakes and setbacks are not signs of failure, but opportunities for learning and growth. Failures are literally the stepping stones to achieving success; they stretch your capabilities and provide valuable learning experiences so you can adapt and grow. When you encounter an obstacle, don’t dwell on it negatively. Instead, analyze what happened, extract lessons from the experience, and use that knowledge to revamp and move forward. This one is easier said than done, and it can be difficult to NOT become discouraged and want to throw in the towel – but reframing obstacles as growth experiences will help you view these lessons more objectively and move on in a productive manner.
Cultivate Positive Self-Talk
Your inner dialogue can significantly influence your mindset. Pay attention to the nature of your self-talk and replace negative, self-limiting beliefs with positive, growth-oriented ones. Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” tell yourself, “I am learning and improving every day.” And give yourself credit! High five yourself in the mirror (check out Mel Robbins’ High Five Habit!), look yourself in the eye and say “I’m proud of you,” and journal affirmations and future goals daily. Training your brain to be on your team (and learning to tune out your ego) will accelerate the ease at which you cultivate self-love and a positive outlook.
Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded Individuals
The people you spend time with most often have a profound impact on your behaviors and mindset. Surround yourself with individuals who are uplifting and forward-focused. Engaging in discussions with them, sharing experiences, and learning from their perspectives can help reinforce your own growth-oriented thinking. Notice the messages of those you see on social media too- follow leaders, coaches, or motivational figures to be sure you’re consuming empowering messages daily. Unfollow those who don’t align with you or bring you value – this can have a real impact on your day-to-day mindset!
Set Goals and Track Progress
Setting clear, achievable goals and tracking your progress is essential for cultivating a growth mindset and maintaining momentum forward. Break your goals into small, manageable steps, and celebrate your achievements along the way. This not only provides motivation, but also reinforces the idea that improvement is possible through effort and consistency!
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