Cultivating a Growth Mindset
By Clinical Mental Health Team
Can we truly change how we think about things—including ourselves? The answer is yes.
There is a wealth of research available on the topic of mindset, and Carol S. Dweck’s well-known book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success is just one valuable resource. Dweck writes, “When there’s a setback, someone with a fixed mindset will start thinking, ‘Maybe I don’t have what it takes?’ They may get defensive and give up. A hallmark of a successful person is that they persist in the face of obstacles, and often, these obstacles are blessings in disguise.”
A growth mindset is the belief that basic qualities—such as talent or intelligence—can be developed and strengthened over time.
A fixed mindset, on the other hand, assumes these qualities are permanent and unchangeable.
The way we think about ourselves influences the way we behave, learn, and respond to challenges. If you believe your qualities are fixed, you may feel the need to prove yourself repeatedly rather than learning from mistakes. This can become exhausting and may limit growth across many areas of life.
People operating from a fixed mindset may find themselves thinking:
- People are born smart or not, and that never changes.
- It’s too late for someone to learn or gain a new perspective.
- Constructive feedback equals personal criticism.
- “I am who I am, and nothing can change that.”
- When something goes wrong, it cannot be fixed.
- “If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t try at all.”
A fixed mindset can narrow your world, increase self-doubt, and create rigidity. Beginning to shift your thinking may feel intimidating, but it’s okay to be brave. Simply becoming open to seeing things differently is often the first step. Viewing your experiences through a growth-oriented lens can act like fertilizer—helping you flourish, even in difficult seasons.
Here are some examples of growth-minded thinking:
- Everyone can learn something new and become skilled over time.
- “I will try, even if I might fail.”
- Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Every experience offers a chance to gain new insight.
- Improvement is possible when I put in effort.
Why Does Mindset Matter?
Observing our thoughts about ourselves and our experiences can help us grow, even in times that feel like emotional or mental drought. A growth mindset fosters resilience, creativity, and a passion for lifelong learning. Instead of feeling threatened by the success of others, we are inspired by it—seeing it as motivation and a source of valuable insight.
At the heart of a growth mindset is the willingness to stretch beyond what is comfortable, especially when things aren’t going well. This is what allows people to grow and even thrive during life’s most challenging moments.
As you learn to recognize the differences between fixed and growth mindsets, you’ll begin to see how beliefs shape behaviors—how believing your qualities are carved in stone leads you down one path, while believing your qualities can be cultivated takes you down an entirely different, more hopeful road.