What we believe has power over us. It doesn’t matter whether it is a belief we hold consciously or unconsciously. Beliefs guide our thoughts. Our thoughts guide our actions. And our actions guide our results.
There are those who believe that we can be better if we work hard, and there are those who believe that our potential is determined by the talents we are born with, or the lack of them. Psychologist Carol Dweck calls these two contrasting perspectives the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Two concepts that, far from being mere psychological labels, are revealed as factors that can guide our personal and professional trajectories.
What will I read about in this article?
- Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset
- From limitations to achievements
- Doing better for yourself, not for others
Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset
Genetics determines almost everything in the body: the colour of your eyes, how tall you will be, the tone of your skin… There’s not much we can do to change those characteristics. But when it comes to our abilities, it’s a different story.
Your genes alone are not enough to solve complex mathematical problems, compete at the highest level of sport or become the main violinist in the symphony orchestra. No one is born with the skills needed to be an exceptional professional. That can only be achieved by spending thousands of hours learning, practising and growing.
The problem is that some people don’t believe in this. And it’s precisely this idea that prevents them from growing. As if it were a self-fulfilling prophecy, thinking that there’s nothing to do to be better leads to not even trying.
In his book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, psychologist Carol Dweck explores how our beliefs about our abilities and potential can influence our success and personal development. Dweck talks about two types of mindsets: the growth mindset and the fixed mindset. Two concepts that invite us to introspect on the beliefs that shape our lives.
The fixed mindset, on the one hand, is characterised by the belief that our abilities and talents are innate and immutable, a gift or a permanent burden with which we are born. This mindset, rooted in the notion of limitation, might suggest that effort is futile or that failure is a reflection of personal inadequacy.
For example, a student who believes that his or her mathematical ability is fixed might easily give up on a difficult problem, convinced that he or she does not have the necessary skills to solve it.
In contrast, the growth mindset unfolds a horizon of possibilities. This approach proposes that our capabilities are just a starting point, fosters a love of learning and considers resilience essential to achieve great things. The importance of adopting a growth mindset lies in the ability to see challenges as opportunities, not insurmountable obstacles.
“The growth mindset proposes that our capabilities are just a starting point, fosters a love of learning and considers resilience essential to achieve great things”.
Growth mindset: from constraints to achievements
Have you been following the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games? The growth mindset is key for these athletes, who, despite facing physical limitations, continually defy expectations and redefine what’s possible in sport.
Take the example of Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long, who had her legs amputated when she was just 18 months old, with numerous subsequent operations throughout her childhood. An event that has not prevented the swimmer from winning her 17th Paralympic gold this summer in Paris, bringing her total medal haul to 30.
How do you react to obstacles in your life? According to Carol Dweck, people with a fixed mindset often tell themselves things like “I’m not good at it“, “if it’s hard I’ll give up“, “I’m only doing what I’m already good at“, etc. This type of person relies too much on talent and believes that people are naturally good at one thing or another.
In contrast, people with a growth mindset often say things like: “I love new challenges“, “I’ll find a way to do it“, “I like to learn“, “If I make a mistake, I’ll try again“, etc.
Doing better for yourself, not for others
This doesn’t mean that growth-minded people can do anything. It’s not a matter of falling back on the hackneyed phrase “if you want to, you can”, because we know that’s not the case. No matter how much someone wants to, believes in it and works hard, a person who is five feet tall and has asthma will never play basketball like Michael Jordan.
The point, as the psychologist puts it, is not to compare ourselves with anyone else. How did that person play basketball a year ago and how does he or she play now, after persistent training? Surely much better.
Growth-minded people simply seek continuous improvement, while fixed-minded people seek the approval of others. They’re more concerned with their self-image and therefore only risk doing what they already know how to do. They may see failure as a threat to their identity, paralysing them with the fear of being judged or labelled as inadequate.
However, the growth mindset teaches us that failure is not the end, but an impetus towards learning and improvement. How many times have we stopped trying something for fear of not being good enough? Perhaps, by adopting a growth mindset, we will discover that the road to success is not paved with innate talent, but with a willingness to evolve. True potential lies not in what we already know, but in what we’re willing to learn.