How to develop a growth mindset
The term ‘growth mindset’ was first coined by Stanford professor Carol Dweck. It involves focusing on how each situation in your life enables you to grow and develop as a person.
As simple as it sounds, developing a growth mindset takes effort and practice. Rather than limiting oneself with the belief that “I’m not capable of performing this task”, an individual with a growth mindset is willing to take on the challenge and put in the time to reach their goal. It’s the belief that your skills and talents are adaptable and that your thought processes aren’t set in stone.
How to develop a growth mindset
It’s possible for anybody to develop a growth mindset, but it takes some work and patience. In order to develop a growth mindset we need to believe in ourselves and our ability to get better at something. Here are some top tips to help you develop a more positive outlook on life and treat new situations as opportunities for growth..
- Try to find the positive side in every situation
- Write down the things that are on your mind in a journal or on a Word document
- Be conscious of how you speak to yourself
- Treat yourself the way you would treat others - with care and respect
- Accept that mistakes and failures are a natural part of life and are not always avoidable
- Rephrase your sentences to focus on what you can do and not what you can't do
- Embrace the idea of 'yet' - you haven't achieved your goals...yet
- Practice mindfulness and meditation to improve your ability to remain present
- Set yourself optimistic but realistic goals for both the short term (the next few months) and the long term (the next six to twelve months)