Living From a Growth Mindset

DO YOU OPERATE FROM PERFECTIONISM OR A GROWTH MINDSET?

What’s the difference?

A growth mindset focuses on the process of learning and understanding that learning happens over time. It fosters an attitude of patience and acceptance without judging the results. A growth mindset embraces mistakes as learning opportunities and values effort  over final results. Perfectionism on the other hand, obsesses over flawless outcomes and operating from too high of expectations where anything less than perfect is viewed as a failure. 

How can I tell if I am operating from perfectionism or a growth mindset? Listen to your language, both the words you speak and the story you are telling yourself reveal the answer.

Does your language sound like it’s coming from PERFECTIONISM?

“I can’t.”

“I’m done.”

“This is too hard.”

“I will never be smart.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I hate this. I’m not good at it.”

“If I can’t do it perfectly, I am not even going to try.”

ORRRRR. . . . . . 

Does your language sound like it’s coming from a GROWTH MINDSET?

“I am willing to try.”

“I can always make it better.”

“This may take some time.”

“I CAN train my brain.”

“I don’t get it YET.”

“This is hard for me but I’m learning from it.”

“I can have love and compassion for myself while I am learning new skills.”

“I am loveable even if I am vulnerable.”

“I am good enough even if I have no idea what I am doing.”

GROWTH MINDSET STRATEGIES

• Embrace Challenges: Face challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. Don’t shy away from difficulties, they are your chance to grow. 

• Learn From Setbacks: Instead of viewing setbacks as failures, see them as stepping stones toward improvement. Analyze what went wrong and use it to your advantage.

• Effort Over Perfection: Focus on putting in effort and learning, rather than striving for perfection. Mistakes are part of the learning process. 

• Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Remind yourself that your abilities can improve with time and effort.

• Celebrate Progress: Celebrate your small wins and achievements along the way. Every step forward is evidence of your growth. 

I am not sure where you are with Growth-Mindedness as a practice and a way of living . . . but, to be honest, I needed this gentle reminder about focusing on a growth mindset. I am experiencing some new opportunities in my life and I am finding myself verbalizing the exact language listed in the perfectionism column! Goodness! I seriously want to run away from this challenge/opportunity! However, I am choosing to embrace it and I am now settling into a new role and a new way of thinking about personal growth in spite of this current situation . . .and for now, I am just allowing myself space to grow. I have been observing my thinking and I have been working/processing limiting beliefs that are surfacing. . .  this is good news right?

Of course, this is what IHA is all about, using life’s situations as material for personal growth. So, I get to celebrate these challenges and see them as opportunities to do my personal work during this time. I think allowing ourselves to grow skills in new ways takes courage! Here’s to all of you who have faced hard things and have had the courage to embrace challenges and then have harvested the growth and used what you have gone through for good! 

May we all be gentle and patient with ourselves and with each other and allow for learning and discovery as we continue to practice living from a GROWTH MINDSET no matter how many times we revisit this lesson!

Loves always and always!

Pam