Which Mindset Do You Have?

Life is a state of mind; imagine the one that you want, and then create it.

Which mindset do you have?

Are you really aware of how powerful you actually are? Or are you stuck in the idea that you have no power over your life? That you just have to play that big game of life with the talents and tools that you received at birth?

There are basically 2 Mindsets, they are the Fixed Mindset and the Growth Mindset.

Please, answer these questions about intelligence. Read each statement and decide whether you agree with it or disagree with it.

1. Your intelligence is something very basic about you that you can’t change very much.
2. You can learn new things, but you can’t really change how intelligent you are.
3. No matter how much intelligence you have, you always can change it quite a bit.
4. You always can substantially change how intelligent you are.

Statements 1 and 2 are fixed-mindset statements.

Statements 3 and 4 reflect the growth mindset.

Which mindset did you agree with more?

You can be a mixture, but most people lean toward one or the other.

 

You also have beliefs about other abilities.

You could substitute “artistic talent,” “sports ability,” or “business skill” for “intelligence.”

Try it.

But it is not only your abilities; it is your personal qualities too. Look at these statements about personality & character and decide whether you mostly agree or mostly disagree with each one.

1. You are a certain kind of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that.
2. No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially.
3. You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can’t really be changed.
4. You can always change the basic things about the kind of person you are.

Here, statements 1 and 3 are the fixed-mindset statements and statements 2 and 4 reflect the growth mindset.

Which did you agree with more?

Did it differ from your intelligence mindset?

It can.

Your “intelligence mindset” comes into play when situations involve mental ability. Your “personality mindset” comes into play in situations that involve your personal qualities. For example, how dependable, cooperative, caring, or socially skilled you are. Someone with a fixed mindset will be concerned with how they will be judged. But when you have a growth mindset you will be more concerned with improving.

Here are some more ways to think about mindsets:

– Think of someone you know who is steeped in the fixed mindset. Think about how they are always trying to prove themselves and how they are super sensitive about being wrong or making mistakes. Did you ever wonder why they were this way? Are you this way?

Now you can begin to understand why.

– Think about someone you know who is skilled in the growth mindset – someone who understands that important qualities can be cultivated. Think about the ways they confront obstacles. Think about the things they do to stretch themselves. What are some ways you might like to change or stretch yourself?

Okay, now I would like you to imagine that you have decided to learn a new language and you have signed up for a class. A few sessions into the course, the instructor calls you to the front of the room and starts throwing questions at you one after another.

Put yourself in a fixed mindset.

Your ability is on the line.

Can you feel everyone’s eyes on you?

Can you see the instructor’s face evaluating you?

Feel the tension, feel your ego bristle and waver.

What else are you thinking and feeling?

 

Now put yourself in a growth mindset.

You are a student – that is why you are there. You are there to learn. The teacher is a resource for learning.

Now, feel the tension leave you; feel your mind open up.

The message here is: You can change your mindset.

 

When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world.

In one world – the world of Fixed Traits – success is about proving that you are smart or talented. It is about validating yourself.

In the other world – the world of Changing Qualities – it’s all about stretching yourself to learn something new. It is about developing yourself.

In this FT world, failure is about having a setback. Getting a bad grade. Losing a tournament. Getting fired. Getting rejected. It means you are not smart or talented enough.

In the CQ world, there is no failure, you are only making mistakes and that is all about learning and growing. Going for the things you value. It means you are not yet fulfilling your potential.

In this FT world, an effort is a bad thing. It, like a failure, means that you are not smart or talented enough. If you were, you would not need the effort.

In the CQ world, the effort is what makes you smart or talented.

Now you know that you have a choice. Mindsets are just beliefs.

They are powerful beliefs, but they are just something in your mind, and you can always change your mind. As you read, think about where you would like to go and which mindset will take you there.

And if by any chance, you happen to have any thoughts about this, then please, do share it with us. We love to hear from you. https://www.facebook.com/dawncady.mindsetcoach/