Six ways to cultivate a growth mindset



The term "growth mindset" was first coined by Dr. Carol Dwek, an American psychologist, after studying the behavior of thousands of children. When you have a growth mindset, you're more likely to try new things, explore new possibilities, and you're not afraid to fail or experience setbacks because you know that those are just a part of the process.



Dr. Dwek writes of the growth mindset: "the passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives."



How can we cultivate a growth mindset in ourselves? Here are a few ways you can start training your brain to think with a growth mindset instead of a fixed one:



1. Stop worrying about if you're smart enough, start worrying if you're working hard enough



As Dr. Dwek explains: "genius is not enough; we need to get the job done." At the end of the day, does it really matter how intelligent you are if you get the job done? Of course not. The most important thing is whether you put in your best effort. To cultivate a growth mindset, stop judging your worth based on how smart you perceive yourself to be and start focusing on trying your best, learning along the way, and enjoying the process.



2. Reframe failures as learning opportunities



A hallmark of the growth mindset is a reframing of failures as learning opportunities. People with fixed mindsets often see failures as reflections of their own intelligence or skill, so they end up giving up when confronted with disappointment. But instead of seeing failure as a negative thing, reframe it as an opportunity to learn something.



So it didn't work, what could you try instead? If this set of actions resulted in failure, how could you change things next time to result in success? This is a huge part of developing a growth mindset and will keep you headed forward instead of falling behind.



3. Reframe setbacks as part of the process



Similarly, it's important to remember that setbacks, failures, frustrations, disappointments, etc. are 100% natural. How many times did Edison try to make a lightbulb? How many setbacks did Oprah Winfrey face on her journey to fame? How many times have you yourself experienced a setback, but continued on regardless? A setback or failure is not something to be ashamed of, but embraced. Learn from it, appreciate it, then move on.



4. Praise effort rather than outcomes



In Dr. Dwek's book, she writes: "after seven experiments with hundreds of children, we had some of the clearest findings I've ever seen: Praising children's intelligence harms their motivation and it harms their performance. How can that be? Don't children love to be praised? Yes, children love praise. And they especially love to be praised for their intelligence and talent. It really does give them a boost, a special glow – but only for the moment. The minute they hit a snag, their confidence goes out the window and their motivation hits rock bottom. If success means they're smart, then failure means they're dumb. That's the fixed mindset."



Praise itself is not always productive. Even if you congratulate yourself, you may end up hurting long term. It's important to remember that praising your intelligence and talent won't help you grow and learn. Instead, praising hard work and tenacity is a better way to develop the growth mindset and encourage improvement.



5. Don't be afraid to ask questions



One trait that people with growth mindsets often exhibit is the ability to ask questions. Of course, we can all ask questions. But those with growth mindsets are not afraid to appear silly, strange, or unintelligent for asking them. Rather than worrying about how others will perceive your intelligence when asking a question, focus on trying your best to learn and grow. You obviously can't be expected to know everything or to do everything on your own. So reach out when you need help. Ask questions when you don't know. That is where real intelligence is formed.



6. Take on new challenges



People with growth mindsets deeply believe that they can learn and become anything if they apply themselves. But if you're currently stuck in a fixed mindset, this might be hard to believe right away. So in order to start seeing it in action, take on a new challenge. Start with something small and manageable that you know you can do. When you accomplish it, move on to something a bit larger that maybe you're not so sure you can do. Over time, you'll realize that it's totally possible for you to improve your skills, abilities, and talents. You just need to put in the effort and time.



So in whatever small ways you can, begin to explore what it feels like to have a growth mindset. You may just be surprised at all the amazing things you accomplish.



💡字数限制，词汇表、翻译、视频和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】