I’m just not good with numbers.
I’m not a creative person.
I can’t seem to lose weight.
I always procrastinate.
These kinds of self-limiting statements are extremely common, and most of us don’t think much about them. After all, nobody can excel at everything, and it’s normal to acknowledge what we’re not good at… right?
The answer is a bit more complicated than you might expect. While it’s healthy to be able to acknowledge your shortcomings, psychologists warn that continuously believing that there’s no hope for improvement could negatively affect your mindset. Your mindset can be described as a general collection of thoughts, attitudes, and methods that you accumulate throughout your life.
These beliefs influence your emotions, habits, decisions, and, as some researchers suggest, whether or not you succeed in reaching your goals.
Characteristics of a Fixed Mindset
Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor at Stanford University and the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, was the first to coin the terms “fixed mindset” and “growth mindset” in her book. Dweck’s research revealed that the way individuals think about and approach challenges has a significant impact on their chances of success.
An individual with a fixed mindset is prone to believing that talents, abilities, and personal qualities are innate and unchangeable. They might shy away from challenges or repeatedly fail to achieve personal goals due to preconceived notions about what they can or cannot accomplish. For example, someone who insists they’re not creative would likely show reluctance to take a painting class. A person who believes they’ll never be good at math probably won’t try to improve their understanding of the subject.
On the other hand, a growth mindset is the complete opposite. Individuals with a growth mindset believe that personal talents, qualities, and abilities can be developed through hard work and perseverance. They’re willing to try new things, tackle challenges, and attempt to improve their skills in whatever fields or subjects they’re interested in. This mindset helps people bounce back quickly when things don’t go according to plan, whereas people with fixed mindsets might immediately give up after a single try.
Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets: Which are you?
Dweck emphasizes that achieving a growth mindset isn’t simple by any means. Even if you tend to have a growth mindset in most areas of your life, everyone has specific triggers that can cause them to fall back into fixed mindsets. “When we face challenges, receive criticism, or fare poorly compared with others, we can easily fall into insecurity or defensiveness, a response that inhibits growth,” writes Dweck. The goal isn’t to achieve a perfect growth mindset, but rather to gain more awareness of our thought processes.
Not sure if you’re more inclined to have a growth or fixed mindset? Author Kendra Cherry, MS, suggests asking yourself which of the following statements you agree with the most:
- People have a certain amount of intelligence, and there isn’t any way to change it.
- No matter who you are, there isn’t much you can do to improve your basic abilities and personality.
- People are capable of changing who they are.
- You can learn new things and improve your intelligence.
- People either have particular talents, or they don’t. You can’t just acquire talent for things like music, writing, art, or athletics.
- Studying, working hard, and practicing new skills are all ways to develop new talents and abilities.
If you find yourself agreeing with statements 1, 2, and 5, you have a more fixed mindset. On the other hand, agreeing with statements 3, 4, and 6 are indicative of a growth mindset.
Breaking Bad Mental Habits
Since each person’s mindset is the result of unique experiences and feelings, trying to change your own thought patterns can be a difficult process. Actively recognizing when you’re having thoughts that align with a fixed mindset is key, but it’s also important not to become frustrated with yourself for these recurring thoughts and emotions. Practicing mindfulness for a few minutes a day can help you gain awareness of your thoughts, accept them, and then choose not to act according to those feelings.
James Clear, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book, Atomic Habits, encourages people to start small when trying to break out of restrictive fixed mindsets. “You can become more creative, more intelligent, more athletic, more artistic, and more successful by focusing on the process, not the outcome,” writes Clear. “It’s not about the result, it’s about building the identity of the type of person who gets to enjoy those results.”
Lastly, emotional intelligence (EI) executive coach Svetlana Whitener cautions individuals about envying others during their process of transitioning to a growth mindset. Viewing other people with envy and wishing you had their level of success will only discourage you. However, if you look at successful people as inspiration, you’ll feel more motivated to reach your goals.
