I am a recovering fixed mindset sufferer. For years I was so much more worried about performance and how others perceived me I let it limit jobs I took, opportunities I pursued you name it.

I was so worried that if I failed at something, it would mean I was a failure and that’s how others would see me. However, since adopting a growth mindset much of that has changed. I now attempt things that are so hard I might just fail.

I’ve learned to enjoy the process of trying and the benefit of learning. In this episode of The Best Friday Ever I discuss areas where a fixed mindset can have adverse consequences on our lives.

Much of the research on this topic was pioneered by Stanford researcher Dr. Carol Dweck. Here is bit about her.

American psychologist Carol Dweck is primarily interested in the influence of mindset on motivation and self-regulation. She believes that the right mindset can be the key to our success. She specifically focuses on fixed and growth mindsets, which she believes are two ends of a spectrum of how people view their abilities. Those towards the fixed end believe their abilities are innate and unchangeable, whereas those who lie towards the growth end of the continuum believe that their abilities are malleable, and success can be achieved through hard work.

Dweck promotes a growth mindset as more adaptive than a fixed mindset and encourages parents and teachers to guide children in developing a growth mindset. Her ultimate goal is to reduce stress and encourage people to persevere when faced with challenges. Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to stay down when they fall. Dweck stresses the importance of getting back up and trying again, reminding us that, with dedication and hard work, we are all capable of achieving great things.“

Test scores and measures of achievement tell you where a student is, but they don’t tell you where a student could end up.

– Carol Dweck in her 2006 book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success