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How a Growth Mindset Can Become Your Superpower!
“There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape” – Superman.
The Avengers, Spiderman, Superman, Catwoman… We grew up with these superheroes on our screens, t-shirts, and lunchboxes. We’ve seen Superman and the X-Men grow into their powers and celebrated with them as they finally discovered their full potential. We’ve watched Batman and Iron Man hard at work in their basements at all hours of the day, perfecting their suits, tricks, and tools.
It is time for us to realise that we too have a superpower and that with some time, hard work, dedication, and the power of positive thinking, we can develop this power into something that will change our lives forever. The superpower we are referring to is that of a growth mindset.
What Is A Growth Mindset?
Dr Carol Dweck, the writer of the book ‘Mindset’, was the first to come up with the terms “fixed mindset” and “growth mindset”. She describes a growth mindset as the belief that talents and abilities are not fixed but can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and good mentoring from others.
People who have a growth mindset are not discouraged by failure but will see it as an opportunity for growth. They believe that the more time and effort you put into something, the better your outcome will be. These people search out challenges and they’re always on a road to self-improvement. They welcome criticism as something that they can learn from and find inspiration in the success of others. As people with a growth mindset treat the obstacles in their way as something to overcome and not something to fear, they tend to also be more successful than others. You can also read more about a growth mindset here.
What Is the Difference Between a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset?
People with a fixed mindset believe that what you get is all you’ll ever have. They believe that people have certain skills, talents, and abilities with which they are born and that nothing can change this; the intelligence you have now is all you get, there is no more.
To best compare the two, let’s imagine a wooden box and a balloon. The wooden box is a certain size and this is the size it will always be; there is no changing it. We can only fit a certain number of things in this box. With the balloon, on the other hand, the more we blow into it, the more it will stretch. The size of your balloon is up to you, and that is what a growth mindset does.
People with a fixed mindset also tend to stay within their comfort zone. The possibility of failure is too strong when they are moving toward the unknown and because failure is viewed as ‘The End’ and a terrible embarrassment by them, they avoid it at all costs. People with a growth mindset, however, view failure as an opportunity to learn and thus seek out the unknown and revel in it.
When they are criticised, people with a growth mindset will listen, absorb the information and use it to better themselves, while people with a fixed mindset tend to take it as a personal attack. They also give up easily when faced with obstacles, while someone with a growth mindset would rather view an obstacle as an opportunity to experiment with solutions.
Below are some strategies you can use to develop a growth mindset.
1. Use the Power of “Yet”
According to Dr Dweck, the word “yet” is what we most need to hang onto when developing a growth mindset. “Yet” or “not yet” gives us a “path into the future”. What this word reminds us is that failure is not the end. There is more to come. When you start using “yet”, you are referring to growth, even before it has happened.
Q: Did you succeed?
A: Not yet.
In other words, “ Even though I have not succeeded yet, I will succeed in the future.” Make the word ‘yet’ your superpower. With “yet”, you will have the power to turn any failure into just another stop on a road to success; you’ll be able to look into the future and picture yourself successful.
2. Embrace Challenges
Another tip we can take from our childhood superheroes is to be brave! Don’t back down from situations that seem too complicated or dangerous, be brave and meet them head-on! Being brave is a big part of developing a growth mindset. You need to be willing to face your fears to be able to grow and improve. Never settle and keep challenging yourself. For our heroes, ‘good enough’ is never enough. They are always becoming bigger, better, and stronger, and so should you.
Each superhero has some kind of weakness and that’s okay. Perfection does not exist! Chasing something better helps us grow, yes, but believing that there is one true ‘Perfect’ and then never reaching it is simply setting yourself up for disappointment. If you think about the word perfection, by definition, it brings an end to something. “I am now perfect. There is nothing more to be done.” And this is the exact opposite of what we want. People with a growth mindset don’t believe in an ending. They are always striving for something more.
3. Never Give Up
The next superpower you might want to aim for is immortality. An immortal drive to get up and keep fighting for what you want and believe in, time and time again. We need to remember that everyone has a weak spot. What is your kryptonite? It doesn’t matter. Was Superman any less super after recovering from exposure to kryptonite? No! He kept on fighting crime and moving forward- saving people, being awesome… And so should you. You might get hurt at times, you may even back down from a challenge or two, but this does not mean that your growth mindset is now dead. You had a setback, rise from the ashes and live to fight another day.
Superheroes don’t doubt themselves and that is because they have super self-confidence. A belief in their abilities and themselves. The greatest minds of our time, at one stage or another, seemed crazy because of the ideas they came up with. When we stop caring what other people think, we set ourselves free from the boxes we’ve been placed in by society and we can finally develop, learn and grow for our own benefit. Don’t miss out on opportunities because they may look silly to others. Put on your cape and fly!
4. Cultivate Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
You cannot grow if you decide to stop learning. Just like our superheroes, they use any occasion to learn how best to use their superpowers. So also, you need to use everything you see to learn and get better. Lessons aren’t only learnt at school! You can also learn from life experiences, from observing the people who inspire you, from the successes and failures of others, and so on. So, everything around you can teach you something that can make you a better person.
That’s why you need to develop positive curiosity. Ask questions, that’s how you get answers on matters that you don’t understand. See learning as a journey and not a destination. Always tell yourself that there’s more to discover. Therefore, allow your mind to be open to receiving new ideas, perspectives, concepts and strategies. Remember, don’t be like a box that cannot increase in size, but like a balloon… The more you allow your mind to learn new information, the bigger, better and stronger you become.
5. Learn From Criticism
Another of your new superpowers should be viewing all criticism in a positive light. Most of the time, criticism actually comes from a place of love. People around you may notice an area of your life where you are lacking and want to help. Without them pointing this out to you, you may have never known there was room for improvement. Take this opportunity to grow as a person by deciding how you can improve on this flaw in the future.
By simply applying these strategies and changing the way we think about our talents and abilities, we could transform the way we experience life. A growth mindset could become your superpower against self-doubt and becoming stagnant, allowing you to reach previously unimaginable heights. Remember, if you don’t have a growth mindset now, you just don’t have one, YET!
At GT Scholars, our programmes encourage the shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Our programmes include tutoring, mentoring and personal development courses that will help challenge your mindset and set you up for success. If you are interested in finding out more about our programmes, you can click here.
GT Scholars is an award-winning education company and social enterprise. We run high-impact tutoring, mentoring & enrichment programmes for young people aged 11-18. If you’d like to give your child the support, skills and strategies needed to achieve their academic and career aspirations, you're in the right place!
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