Growth Mindset Vs Fixed Mindset: 4 Ways The Former Helps You Navigate The World

The nature of the world is such that it is constantly changing, and very rapidly. We are exposed to a lot of new information, and almost immediately. As each year passes, it seems more important to develop and reinforce skills that help in adjusting better to change and unexpected situations. Even in jobs across different fields, roles and responsibilities are becoming more fluid.

If we look at the effects of the pandemic, while there was chaos around, it also opened up multiple opportunities to learn and grow in our homes. Ideas were flowing, new concepts were formed, and unique initiatives were executed. All this happened based on the current needs and gaps that were identified through the challenge and difficulty.

This article will explore the difference between two types of mindsets - The Growth Mindset and The Fixed Mindset. It will also talk about the practical implications of the growth mindset specifically for students and how it can help when dealing with the world around them.

What Are The Types Of Mindsets?

There are several theories out there on the internet, however, this article will bring to light two broad types of mindsets, with an emphasis on the expansive nature of one of them. The mindsets we will refer to are–

• Growth Mindset
• Fixed Mindset

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Carol Dweck established the terms "growth mindset" and "fixed mindset" after her work with students in trying to understand their beliefs and attitudes toward the concept of “failure”. Essentially, growth mindset and fixed mindset help to understand one’s own feelings and beliefs about their intelligence and ability to learn.

Fixed Mindset

People who believe talent and the ability to learn is intrinsic and can not be improved on have a fixed mindset. This belief system puts them in situations where they tend to put effort to prove themselves right instead of taking the time to reflect on what went wrong and change their perspectives.

This mindset is static. A cognitive error that people with these mindsets often indulge in is “all or nothing” thinking, which simply means that they believe that people are good or bad. This could be for certain skills, responses, or actions.

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is one where people believe that intelligence can be improved and new skills can be learned with effort. People who have this belief system are able to overcome challenges better, are more adaptive, and have the ability to maintain motivation to overcome hardships or changes. The growth mindset is more dynamic and paves the way for creation or innovation.

Fixed Mindset Vs Growth Mindset

Let's look at how people with these two mindsets would behave in different situations.

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Growth Mindset For Students

The world is changing rapidly and unpredictably. The past few years have proven that unprecedented hardships can hit us when we least expect them. While predictions of what is to come are rather difficult, what is important is having the skills to adjust to these unpredictable times.

It is vital, especially for students, to find ways to imbibe and cultivate the underlying attitudes that come with the growth mindset. As cliche as it sounds, students of today are the future that is to come. The younger we are, the easier it is to learn new behaviors, form new beliefs, and rewire our minds.

How A Growth Mindset Helps

There are multiple ways in which the growth mindset can have a positive influence in different areas of a student’s life.

Helps See The Silver Lining

When the growth mindset is cultivated and fostered, you are more receptive to seeing the silver lining. If you don’t do as well as you thought you would on an assignment, test, or exam, instead of feeling like you have failed, your default setting will be – "What can I do to improve next time?" – It works as positive reinforcement and motivation to do better because you believe that you have the skills and information required to do so.

When you believe that skills and talent can be nurtured and improved, it creates an intrinsic motivation to move towards your goals.

Change In Narrative

This simply means that you are able to change the way you talk to yourself. When faced with a difficulty or an expected situation, you make a shift from telling yourself “I can’t do this” to “Although I didn’t do as well, I can improve.”

It doesn't mean you don't recognise where you went wrong – you accept it and don’t let it hinder your journey to reaching your potential. You own your limitations and work on them to transform them into your strengths.

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Fosters Creativity

When you believe that skills and talent can be nurtured and improved, it creates an intrinsic motivation to move towards your goals. This makes you more flexible and multiple options and roads to the destination you want to reach.

You find new ways to achieve your goals and ambitions, and more importantly, you become more willing to try out unconventional ideas and see whether you are getting the results you want. You are willing to take informed risks given your experience and learning so far.

Prepares You For The Future

A growth mindset allows you to work on yourself in a more practical and applicable way. This is extremely beneficial as it prepares you to maneuver through real-life situations like the challenges you may face when you are in a job.

On the other hand, a fixed mindset prepares you to take exams rather than a job. Once you enter the job space, you will start to realise that whatever plans you make will inadvertently change due to circumstances that no one on the team could prepare for. During those times, it is vital that you remain persistent in the face of these challenges. It leads to a lot of learning, growth, and evolution of your own skills, talents, and traits.

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The growth mindset can have a tremendous impact on a student's life because it creates the belief that you can achieve anything and that nothing can really stop you from achieving what you set out to do in school, college, and in the job space. In addition to this, it will also have a positive impact on your interpersonal relationships and help you navigate through challenges at different stages of your life.

Ichha Bhan is a counselling psychologist, and personal growth coach. She holds over five years of hands-on experience in working with children and adolescents, helping them and their parents navigate shared emotions, and the challenges of growing up.