What is a Mindset?
Mind-sets are beliefs about your fundamental thought processes and values. They fall into two broad categories; Fixed and Growth.
FIXED MINDSET
People with a Fixed Mindset think that talent by itself will generate success. When presented with a difficult physical or mental challenge, they lean towards the easy way out to avoid looking like a failure and ‘making a fool’ of themselves. This is a psychological principle referred to as self-handicapping. These people generally tend to:
- Think that ability is fixed and cannot be improved.
- Avoid challenges if the outcomes are uncertain (they only go for things where the results are guaranteed).
- Often give up when presented with obstacles – they believe that obstacles are outside forces that get in the way of their success.
- Think it’s pointless making an effort if the outcome is uncertain.
- Try to avoid criticism whenever possible as they associate it with a reflection of their self.
- Can feel threatened by the others succeeding, have a fear of failing and avoid situations where they might fail.
- Believe all events and human actions, are caused by someone or something else – a deterministic outlook on life and the world in general.
Let’s delve deeper and take a look at the thought processes of those with the Fixed Mindset:
INTELLIGENCE IS STATIC
People who hold these beliefs may think that “they are the way they are”, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have less of a desire for a positive self-image than anyone else out there. They also want to perform well and ‘look’ smart too.
AVOID CHALLENGES
By default, challenges are hard and success is not guaranteed, so rather than the risk of failing which would negatively impact their self-image, they will often avoid the challenge and stay with what they know they can achieve.
AVOID OBSTACLES
It’s the same with obstacles. The difference here is that the challenges are optional things that you can do while obstacles are outside forces that are in your way.
EFFORT IS POINTLESS
Fixed mindsets have the view that what’s the point of hard work and effort if after it you are still remaining on square one? If your world tells you that making an effort is difficult and doesn’t really get you anywhere, then the fixed mindset says let’s avoid it completely.
REJECT CRITICISM
Creative criticism or negative feedback is ignored, or even taken as an insult. The Fixed Mindset logically tells that any criticism of your capabilities is a personal attack. The effect of this is that those trying to help through feedback eventually give up and further isolate the person from outside influences that could help them improve in some way.
SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE JUST LUCKY
The success of others is unwelcome as it is viewed as a measure of their own shortcomings. When others succeed, those with a Fixed Mindset will tell themselves and try to persuade others around them that the success was due to either them being lucky or for other unrelated reasons. They may even try to run them down by bringing up negative news about them (“Yes, but did you know about her…etc”).
WILL NEVER REACH FULL POTENTIAL
Consequently people with fixed mindset won’t reach their full potential and their beliefs are self-fulfilling prophecy. They don’t change or improve much as time passes, and so to them it confirms that “they are as they thought they are”.
GROWTH MINDSET
On the opposite end, people with a Growth Mindset believe they can generate success by working hard, and can improve their abilities through practice, learning and self development. They will try challenges regardless of the risk of failing. They see failure as an opportunity to learn. People with growth mindsets tend to:
- See ability as an attribute that can be developed and grown.
- Get motivated by challenges, they are an opportunity to grow and develop.
- Look for ways around problems or obstacles, and see failures as an opportunity to learn.
- See ‘effort’ and perseverance as a route to master their skills, knowledge and abilities.
- View criticism as a chance to learn and make positive changes to the way they do things, rather than a personal attack.
- Become inspired by the success of others and look to learn from them.
- Feel a greater sense of free will and freedom of action in their world.
Some of the characteristics of growth mindset individuals are:
INTELLIGENCE CAN BE NUTURED
People who have a Growth Mindset believe that intelligence and the brain is something that can be continually developed. This creates a desire to improve.
CHALLENGES ARE WELCOME
And how can you improve? First, you welcome challenges, because you know that they will teach you valuable lessons.
OBSTACLES ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
Similarly, obstacles or external forces do not discourage you. You see failure as an opportunity to learn and improve and therefore whatever happens you win.
EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO GROW BETTER
Effort is seen as a necessary thing to grow knowledge and master useful skills rather than something useless to be avoided.
CRITICISM IS USEFUL
Criticism and negative feedback are sources of information to embrace on the path to improvement.
That doesn’t mean that all criticism is worth taking on board or its never taken personally, but a person with the Growth Mindset knows that they can change and improve, so the negative feedback is not seen as being directly about them as people, but rather about their existing abilities.
SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE AN INSPIRATION
The success of others is inspiring and encouragement to attain better things. They are great people to learn from.
GROWTH MINDSET PEOPLE CONTINUALLY GROW
Consequently Growth Mindset people will improve and this will create positive feedback loops that further encourage them to keep learning, improving and achieving more.
So which one are you tending towards, Fixed or Growth mindset? And how can you change elements of a fixed mindset which may be stopping you reaching your goals?
STEP 1 - ACKNOWLEDGE
Recognise any fixed mindset thinking.
Even if you have a growth mindset, occasionally the fixed mindset thinking will raise to the surface.The one that says:
- “I have the wrong genes, how could I possibly gain that much muscle or lose so much fat?”
- “I don’t want to make a fool of myself, so I will just stay here and not bother”
- “I can’t be bothered to stay on this healthy diet”
- “I’m just not as good as them, or have their level of ability”
- “Argh…what if I fail in front of everyone?”
If you find yourself thinking this way, simply acknowledge the thought, then move on to this next step:
STEP 2 - REFRAME
Reframe any fixed mindset, negative thinking with a growth mindset voice.
Once you acknowledge a fixed mindset thought, there are two choices: believe them or reframe them. For example:
- “I’m not making any excuses this time … I’m going for it.”
- “It’s fine if I fail. I will need to take risks to move forward. With perseverance and effort I will succeed eventually.”
- “This isn’t a short term thing, I can integrate it into my lifestyle.”
- “If I am unsure how to do something, I can learn by asking others, or doing some research, or getting guidance from an expert.”
STEP 3 - TAKE ACTION
After re-framing any negative thoughts the next step is to take action. Here are some simple strategies that will help you which I regularly use myself:
An effective way to improve your mindset is to keep planners and training records. Writing things down is a proven way to help you generate a positive mental attitude. Use them to plan your routines, monitor your goals and record your thoughts. For example:
- Every morning write a positive affirmation at the top of your planner such as: “Step by step and rep by rep, I am creating my ideal body”.
- Next, set out everything you plan to do within the day to achieve your goals, for example;
- “Lift weights for 60 minutes, 20 mins aerobic exercise, review your nutrition”.
- Do it – go ahead and carry out the things you have planned to do.
Then at the end of the day or week, evaluate what you have achieved, it’s a great feeling ticking off the things that you planned to do and when completed, your brain sends out powerful “I can do it” empowering messages.
Don’t overthink things, forget the what ifs (what if it rains when I’m running, what if I get cold, what if I cant lift as much as Billy, what if I look silly) and just go for it. Taking action with even just small steps towards your goals will give you a great sense of satisfaction and achievement.
So what are you waiting for, start shifting to a growth mindset TODAY.
``So now you know the difference, are you fixed or growth mindset, and do you need to change anything? Let me know your thoughts here and on Facebook``
