Change is constant. However, is the same true for our minds? Someone with a growth mindset believes so, and so does science. Aptitudes, interests, or temperaments initially vary from person to person. However, someone with a growth mindset believes that people can change and grow.
Neuroscience proves that brains can change even throughout adulthood. According to the Idaho State Journal: “It’s possible to change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Like anything else, it takes time, effort, and deliberate practice. As individuals go through the process, they begin craving learning more than approval. They look for challenges rather than a false sense of accomplishment.”
So, what is the growth mindset and how does it work? Let’s learn everything it takes to turn your can’t into can with a growth mindset below.
What Is the Growth Mindset?
The growth mindset is growing and changing your mind over a period of time. It’s based on the idea that you can learn and develop your intelligence over time through application and experience.
Having initial talents and aptitudes are just a starting point. The growth mindset turns challenges into opportunities and problems into potential.
According to the Harvard Business Journal: “Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset.” Basic qualities of a growth mindset are being open-minded, taking ownership, resilience, and positivity.
What Is the Growth Mindset Used for?
The growth mindset unlocks your highest potential, personally and professionally. According to Mind Scholars Network: “Students with a growth mindset understand they can get smarter through hard work, the use of effective strategies, and help from others when needed.” Below are a few of the ways a growth mindset is used.
- Overcoming challenges. The growth mindset looks at problems or challenges as opportunities. Alternating your mind to viewing problems differently presents many more chances for learning.
- Reaching your potential. The growth mindset allows you to reach your fullest potential by overcoming challenges and believing that you can change your life’s outcome.
- Career and personal success. Additionally, you can achieve success across all aspects of your life when you believe that you can contribute to it.
Types of Growth Mindset
The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. An example of a fixed mindset is if you are learning a new task such as sewing. Someone with a fixed mindset would think: “I am bad at sewing, and I’m never going to learn.” Someone with a growth mindset would instead think: “I haven’t learned how to sew, yet.”
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
People with a fixed mindset believe that their fixed traits are set, and there is nothing they can do about it. According to Forbes: “A fixed mindset assumes that our intelligence, character, and creative ability are static.” Essentially, a fixed mindset means you can’t control what you are given at birth.
Learning to Develop a Growth Mindset
The good news is that teaching a growth mindset is a feasible task. Many schools may teach the growth mindset in their curriculum. From elementary to high school, a growth mindset culture is imperative to embed in students young. Additionally, growth mindset activities are used to teach these strategies.
How Long Does It Take to Learn a Growth Mindset?
The growth mindset teaches us to enjoy not only the destination you are trying to reach but also the journey. According to Psychology Today: “When you have a growth mindset, the end results are less of a focus. Instead, you fully engage and put effort into the process, no matter how long it takes.” So, enjoy the journey of learning a new skill.
If you’re one for detail, learning a growth mindset is similar to learning any new skill: the time it takes will vary, depending on the person. There is no set schedule that you must follow to learn. You control the pace of how you catch on to the growth mindset mentality.
How to Learn Growth Mindset: Step-by-Step
It may seem difficult to completely rewire your brain, so it’s easier to go step by step. Growth mindset abilities can be developed through the following steps.
- Embrace imperfections. An excellent starting point toward learning a growth mindset might be challenging for some people. Embracing faults is critical for growth. As Open Colleges states: “Hiding from your weaknesses means you’ll never overcome them.” People with a growth mindset can embrace their imperfections and weaknesses.
- Fail well and seek challenges. Next, fail well or learn to “reframe” challenges that may arise. Challenges or problems create opportunities. To understand a growth mindset means you may even seek out challenges. Being challenged means reaching or propelling toward your goals.
- Feedback. If you wish to grow in any capacity, feedback is crucial to that process. It’s no different with the growth mindset. People with a growth mindset are necessarily afraid of criticism from their peers. This is their strength. You can learn and grow if you don’t know what to change.
- Approval. You don’t need to look to others for approval. Learn to accept yourself. The opposite of this prevents a growth mindset.
- Research. Research the new topics you wish to learn, the growth mindset itself, and the science behind brain plasticity.
- Value the journey. Remember, it’s not always about the destination.
- Slow and steady. Similar to enjoying the journey, remember to fully engage in the process of learning.
- Reflect. Take time to reflect on everything you have learned.
- Set goals. As with any skill, goal setting can be extremely beneficial. Reaching a new goal doesn’t mean you’re done, simply set a different and new goal.
- Be realistic. Learning takes time and a different amount for each individual. There is no set time to learn the growth mindset, so be patient and realistic.
- Have ownership. You are in charge of your perspective. Taking the responsibility to learn a new skill is crucial. Take the time and effort to invest in this valuable skill.
The Best Growth Mindset Courses
There are many ways to learn, including in-person, online, and even for free. Discover all of these opportunities for learning the growth mindset below.
Best In-Person Growth Mindset Course
There are plenty of benefits of learning in-person, including a traditional education structure and reading a person’s body language, thus resulting in a better learning environment for some. Not as prevalent in today’s society but still an option, the following course offers the opportunity to get in-person education.
General Assembly
- Course: Set Yourself Up For a Growth Mindset in New York City
- Time: Varies
- Prerequisites: Students must come ready to participate in the course.
- Price: Varies
The Set Yourself Up for a Growth Mindset course is offered in New York City. Topics in the class include, but are not limited to, learning how to create a growth mindset, reflecting on how your attitude determines success and resilience, how a mindset creates barriers or success, and creating an action plan.
Best Online Growth Mindset Courses
Online courses are the most convenient as you can learn on your schedule and time. Discover some online growth mindset courses below.
Udemy
- Courses:
- The Growth Mindset Course
- How to be Successful: Create A Growth Mindset For Success
- Leadership: Growth Mindset for Leadership and Organizations
- Growth Mindset: The Key to Greater Confidence and Impact
- The Complete Growth Mindset Course – The Mindset for Success
- Time: Varies
- Prerequisites: Varies
- Price: Varies
Udemy offers a variety of growth mindset courses suitable for all learning styles. Following the completion of Udemy’s courses, you will receive a certification of completion. Additionally, enjoy full lifetime access to the class.
Canvas Network
- Course: Growth Mindset: How to Help Your Child Learn, Grow, Thrive (K-12)
- Time: 7 weeks/1 hour a week
- Prerequisites: Varies
- Price: Free
Teach your child what having a growth mindset means through the How to Help Your Child Learn, Grow, Thrive (K-12). A board-certified psychiatrist leads and teaches the course targeted toward anyone who wishes to advance their knowledge of growth mindset child development.
Best Free Growth Mindset Courses
Growth mindset courses come in different sizes, shapes, and prices, including free. If you are just getting started and don’t want to make a full-time investment, try one of these free courses.
Coursera
- Course: Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
- Time: Varies
- Prerequisites: Varies
- Price: Free
Use emerging technology tools in this course that teaches life long learning habits. Intended for all learners, the free course is offered through the State University of New York. Grow a personal portfolio as you complete each of the assigned modules.
Alison
- Course: Growth Mindsets for Teachers and Learners
- Time: 3-4 hours
- Prerequisites: Varies
- Price: Free
The Growth Mindsets for Teachers and Learners courses is a free online class designated for teachers looking to improve and promote the growth mindset through their instruction. Teachers can inspire students through this immersive course.
Best Growth Mindset Books
Books are an excellent resource for learning the growth mindset, and there are plenty of them on the topic. Here are a few reads to pick up for a variety of learners and even teachers.
‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’, Carol Dweck
The woman behind the discovery of the growth mindset, Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, shares how changing how you think about your talents and aptitudes, interests, and abilities can ultimately change your life. This Amazon number one best selling book will offer advice on how to live a more fulfilled life.
‘Mindsets in the Classroom: Building a Growth Mindset Learning Community’, Mary Cay Ricci
Learn how to cultivate a growth mindset with Mindsets in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci. Advice, tasks, and strategies are shared for teachers throughout the book. Available in both Kindle and paperback versions, the book emphasizes critical thinking and learning from failure.
‘Challenging Mindset: Why a Growth Mindset Makes a Difference in Learning – and What to Do When It Doesn’t’, James Nottingham & Bosse Larsson
Intended for educators, the Challenging Mindset book explores the theories of Carol Dweck and shares practices for putting the growth mindset into action. It fosters not only a growth mindset in the classroom but your students as well.
‘The Growth Mindset: A Guide to Professional and Personal Growth: Set Your Personal and Professional Growth Goals!’, Joshua Moore & Helen Glasgow
The Growth Mindset is aimed at those who wish to challenge themselves personally and professionally. Learn how to get everything you wish out of your career, the difference between networking and collaboration, and how personality affects growth development. Included in the book are strategies for implementing a plan of action. The book is also available on Kindle.
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Best Online Growth Mindset Resources
Of course, in the age of the Internet, there are plenty of growth mindset resources online. A few of those resources can be found below.
The Mind Set Kit
This free resource offers online lessons and practices for developing a growth mindset. Intended for teachers, parents, and mentors, the kit was created by a psychology department at Stanford.
Big Life Journal
Kids grow through application, and the Big Life Journal allows them to learn valuable growth mindset skills through journals, blog posts, and activities. Teach kids as young as four with science-based resources.
Should You Study the Growth Mindset?
The growth mindset unlocks the potential within. If you are questioning whether or not you should learn the growth mindset, then you might want to answer the following questions:
- Are you getting too comfortable?
- Do you want to reach your ultimate potential personally and professionally?
- Would you like the secret that turns challenges into triumphs?
- Are you ready to push yourself mentally?
- Are you ready to harness the power of your mind?
If you answered yes to those, then you might be ready to learn the growth mindset.
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