The growth mindset is what will make the difference between your success or failure in your life. The beliefs you have will play a critical role between what you want and whether you achieve it … or not. Your mindset is the one that plays the active role in determining achievement and success. If you cultivate the growth mindset, there will be nothing that can with your willpower.

The mentality

When we speak of mindset, we are referring to whether you believe that qualities such as intelligence or talent are fixed or changing traits within you. To better understand this:

• • Fixed Mindset – Fixed mindset people believe that people’s qualities are innate, fixed, and cannot be changed.

• Growth Mindset – People with a growth mindset believe that skills can be developed and strengthened through ongoing commitment and effort.

The two types of mindsets

What if a child is given a difficult problem to solve? Some children may feel it as a challenge and a learning experience. Others, on the other hand, feel that it is impossible to solve such a complicated problem and that they are not smart enough to do it.

Children in the first group would have a growth mindset, and those in the second, a fixed mindset. People with a growth mindset, when faced with something difficult, learn and develop the skills they need to solve it. When you have a fixed mentality, you think that you are not capable or that you can never be.

The importance of mindset

Your mindset plays a critical role in how you deal with life’s challenges. In school, a growth mindset can contribute to greater achievement and greater effort. 

When someone is faced with a problem, like trying to find a new job , growth-minded people show greater resilience. They are more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks, while those with a fixed mindset are more likely to give up and think they will never achieve anything (and they don’t). The fixed mindset constantly requires the need for approval from others.

Growth mindsets, on the other hand, turn out to have a “thirst for learning.” A desire to work hard and discover new things. Face challenges and grow as a person. When people with a growth mindset try and fail, they tend not to see it as failure or disappointment. Instead, it is a learning experience that can lead to growth and subsequent change.

The formation of the mindset

Many people are trained in both types of mindsets early in life, often through the way they are educated or their experiences in school.

Fixed mindset. The fixed mindset is formed in children who are taught that being smart is better than trying or those who are judged and are afraid of not being able to meet the expectations that adults have of them.

Growth mindset. The growth mindset is created in children who like to explore and are allowed to do so. They accept new experiences and enjoy challenges. Rather than viewing mistakes as setbacks, they are willing to try new things and make mistakes, all in the name of learning and reaching their potential.

A growth mindset does not imply believing that anyone can become whatever they want with enough education and effort. Not everyone can become Einstein or Mozart just because they try … Instead, the growth mindset is about living up to potential. This potential, however, is never really knowable. Who knows how far a person can go if they propose something? People with a growth mindset say that the effort is worth it to achieve the goals and enjoy the journey (because if you don’t achieve it, you learn).