How to Practice a Growth Mindset
If we know that failure and rejection are such common experiences, even among those who go on to be tremendously successful (think Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein!), why can they feel so difficult to endure? Although few would describe these experiences as pleasant, it turns out there are different mindsets we can adopt when responding to failure and rejection that have important implications for how we live our lives.
Stanford psychologist Carolyn Dweck proposes that there are two attitudes towards failure – fixed mindset and growth mindset. Fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence and personal character are static, and growth mindset is the belief that these things can be developed. Individuals with a fixed mindset are anxious about any challenge because if they try and fail, they believe it reveals something significant about their competence or worth, something that cannot be changed. There are other ways to respond to failure, however!
Failure/Rejection Fixed Mindset Growth Mindset
Student receives a low grade on a test |
“I'm too stupid to pass this class.” |
"I am really going to need to step up the studying before the next test," or "This class is harder than I realized. I'm going to need to track down some more help so I can learn this." |
Student gets cold shoulder from a peer after suggesting they hang out |
"I am such a loser," or "I am never putting myself in this situation again!" |
"I guess he's not interested in making new friends right now," or "Maybe I'll try a different approach next time I'm getting to know someone since that one didn't seem to work." |
For the examples in the table, a student with a growth mindset would realize that the low grade or cold shoulder is not seen as a reflection of some unchangeable quality in them. Note that this mindset is not about shirking responsibility for an unfavorable outcome. In fact, you are actually able to more accurately assess a situation when you are not caught in a spiral of self-criticism.
So if you identify with a fixed mindset, is it possible to change? Yes! Here are some ways to practice a growth mindset and adopt the idea that your abilities are not fixed.
- Practice mindfulness
The next time you’re faced with a failure or an obstacle, examine your gut reaction and ask yourself if you’re using a fixed or growth mindset. Self-awareness is the first step.
- Recognize that you have a choice
As you face challenges, setbacks, and criticism, remember that you get to choose your own thought patterns. When you make the choice that you want to change, you can...
- Talk back with a growth mindset voice
Remember that you want to be brave, to show up in your life so you can learn and grow. The only way to do that is to embrace vulnerability and give it your best shot. You know you are strong enough to see a potential failure as a learning opportunity.
- Learn more about mindset, failure and rejection here Links to an external site..