What Is A Fixed Mindset Or A Growth Mindset & Which One Do You Have?
Nov 10, 2021Have you ever wondered if you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Identifying what type of mindset you have can be incredibly helpful in adjusting your mindset in certain situations.
Take a moment and reflect: What is your initial reaction to tough situations?
Do you find yourself saying things like “Well, I can’t change that,” or “This is exactly how I am”?
Or, is your thinking more along the lines of “I know there’s a solution,” or “I’m going to explore this more”?
That is the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
Think about how your attitude and mindset can affect your daily life. Do you act positive in front of your kids to be a positive influence on them, but then turn around and release negativity when you’re with your friends? Mindset is similar to attitude - and people can tell if you have a positive attitude, negative or neutral attitude. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, your mental state is driving your daily behavior. Meaning, being positive with your kids will leave you feeling good about those interactions, while acting negative around your friends will likely exhaust you and leave you feeling uneasy.
The other thing to consider is what are the attitudes of the people you spend the most time with? I recently was with a family member for several days who was only interested in talking about the bad things going on in her life and complaining about everything. I had to keep leaving the room to take a deep breath and re-collect my positive mindset. (I ended up telling her that she was looking for evidence in why her life was not great and that because she was looking for it, she would find it! I encouraged her to focus on the positive happening and to start small and build on it each day).
So, what can you do if you think you’re stuck in a fixed mindset? Figure out what areas you're fixed in, and what that opposite mindset could mean. Explore where the attitude might have started (journaling is helpful here). From coaching many artists and uncovering my own fixed mindset, I have discovered that many of the things I am ‘fixed’ in started in early childhood, from listening to my parents or mirroring my parents. For example: Do you have a fixed mindset surrounding investments? Reflect on why you have that mindset (where/when it started) and what you need to do to change it, then envision what could happen if you do change it.
I do want to add that having a growth mindset does not mean you can’t get stuck in your own head. Chances are, even with a growth mindset, you have areas of your life where you feel you could be happier (we all do). I suggest taking time to reflect on these areas and really ask.
You can learn more about addressing and growing your mindset in my Art MBA program, where we dive deep into how your mindset is formed, and how you can take control. Learn more about the program here.