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Mindset

Shaping how you see challenges, how you change, and how you grow

Summary

01
Understand that traits are not fixed but can change

02
Use “yet”. Example: I have not achieved this “yet”

03
Growth comes from effort and strategy. Focus on that instead of only results

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I haven’t figured it out…yet

Do you believe you can change? The good news is we can! But how can we cause this change to happen. One way is changing out mindset

The brain is built to grow and change, and you can use this!

Video on brain changes

Fixed mindset

A Fixed Mindset is the perspective that intelligence cannot change. How smart you are is “stuck”

Signs of a fixed mindset

Facing Challenges: Feeling Anxious

Having struggles or setbacks: Being discouraged & defensive

Any criticism: anger, defensiveness, & shame

Seeing someone more skilled than you: jealousy, demotivated

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Click here to use Self Awareness to figure out your mindset

We are all a mix of both mindsets, but we can learn to use the growth more than fixed.

Growth mindset

A Growth Mindset is the perspective that intelligence can change. You can grow your ability to be smart with effort, strategy and time

Signs of a growth mindset

Facing Challenges: Excited

Having struggles or setbacks: Will try extra hard to learn and improve

Any criticism: can see what changes actually should be made

Seeing someone more skilled than you: understand this is an achievable skill most of the time

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A close-up view of many interconnected black wires and cables against a light background, creating a complex web-like structure.

“Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.”
― Carol Dweck

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Effort changes your brain

We can change our own brains to get better at different skills. Let’s learn how!

Growth mindset Video
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How do you view challenges?

If you either are “good” or “bad” at something, and that can’t change, how do you think you might view challenges? They would be a threat to skills you think you are “good” at because failing would mean you are actually fixed at being bad. They are scary and we see people with a fixed mindset avoid challenges.

But what if we can learn to grow in the face of difficulty? People with a growth mindset can enjoy challenges as they are a positive opportunity to grow over time, not a threat to their identity.

'The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the Growth Mindset' - Carol Dweck

Growing a Growth Mindset

  • Focus on effort and strategy over results

  • Try to understand the concept. “Why” is this happening. For example if you don’t succeed in something, you can ask your coach or teacher for specific feedback to try next time.

  • Understand that failures can be beneficial for learning if you use them right. Frustration when overcoming a difficult challenge can actually help you learn faster.

  • You can also use reframing as a tool to change how you see things.

Growth Mindset Tips
Growth Mindset Examples

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