The topic of Growth Mindset VS Fixed Mindset can’t be talked about without mentioning the work of Carol Dweck. Her ideas of “self-perception” and essentially the story we tell ourselves about what we’re capable of, is straight money.
In other words, when it comes to understanding and predicting future long terms success and competancy, Carol Dweck is an O.G.
Carol Dweck & The Growth Mindset
Carol Dweck became interested in how students respond to challenge, she noticed how some students bounced back quickly to failure, while others became discouraged or overwhelmed.
She spoke a lot about the belief systems that the students adopted.
What she called “mind-sets”, she defined as a “self-perception” or “self-theory” that people carried about themselves.
She placed this process in a framework she coined as growth vs fixed mindsets.
She noted that people can be aware of their mindsets, or it could exist should below their level of awareness, but still influencing the lens for how they see the world.
The lens has a profound effect on how skill acquisition, performance, and professional success.
In a fixed mindset, capabilities are fixed, and there is very little that you can do to change it.
Intelligence, working memory, and various other attributes that would reflect overall competency are skills with a ceiling.
Success is a result of talent, instead of hard work and effort.
Fixed minded folks tend to spend less time on “process” or developing skills, and more time on evaluating, documenting, and comparing themselves to others.
Additionally, someone with a fixed mindset was less likely to rise to challenges regardless of competency.
When someone lacked skill in something, the avoidance helped to protect them from failure.
When someone had the skill, challenges were still avoided in case their skills were actually lower than what they previously thought.
With a growth mind-set, limits are seen as transitory and non-fixed. Most skills can be learned with repeated effort, a focus on process, and a dedication to hard work.
Intelligence and natural talent, though are important, are the starting point to exploring deep work that leads to high competency.
A growth-mindset tends to foster a love for learning and a level of resilience that allows them to push through the resistance that leads to higher skill acquisition.
How To Apply A Growth Mindset
The challenge is clear.
We all have limits, but the limits tend to expand in proportion to our effort, strategy, and resilience.
Most of us fail to reach the limits of our potential, to even know where they exist.
Consider that the ceiling that you that existed can actually move. If it was true, and it is, how far would you be willing to move it. The how will arrive when the what become clear.
The practice is this. To develop beyond the limits that the survival part of your brain has told you there.
It begins with changing your mindset, and being willing to adopt a different, better story.
The Power Of Patience
Infinite patience brings immediate results.
Enjoying the work, independent of the pay off is a powerful place to be.
When we are incentivized by the process, motivated by a cause, or moving with spontaneous inspiration, we are committed.
Committed to starting what we finish.
Until one is truly committed, there will always be hesitancy.
The hesitancy is “wondering if the work is worth it. Or if the work will be recognized. Is it lucrative, or am I even good enough”.
Where there is commitment, there is no need for assurance.
The leap is taken. The jump is in motion, and it’s meet with providence almost every time.
With commitment, we’re no longer discouraged by how.
The what takes care of the how.
Redefining The Definition of Success
When we learn to recognize and learn from the cautionary tales, we realize that there is no amount of money, status, success, or pleasure that will give us fulfillment.
Fulfillment comes from meaning. Victor Frankle recognized it in those who survived the concentration camps, and those who didn’t.
We recognize it in those who suffer despite having everything anyone could ever want.
It doesn’t matter if the cup is full or runneth over if we don’t feel our lives have a purpose.
This is their freedom that deep work gives, and you can explore it when you decide to make steady exploration, a commitment to the process, and a habit of showing up each day your definition of success.
Redefine your definition of success.
Find your meaning.