Always Growing… [Sentiasa Berkembang]
Introduction
This week’s reading assignment is based on “Mindset: Changing the Way you think to fulfil your potential” by Dr. Carol Dweck.[1] “Becoming is better than being.”[2] This quote highlights the importance of growth mindset, emphasizing the importance of the journey of learning and development over simply achieving a static state of success. Exploring the concept of mindsets —specifically, the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset is the central theme of Dweck’s book.
Dr. Carol Dweck is an influential American psychologist known for her groundbreaking research on motivation, personality, and development.[3] Dweck’s findings have influenced educational policies, particularly in addressing achievement gaps. Dweck is currently the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, having previously held faculty positions at Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Illinois.
I started my blog with this question; “In what ways does believing in my ability to grow and improve, influence how I face challenges and achieve success?”
According to Dweck, believing in our ability to grow and improve fundamentally shapes how we approach challenges. It empowers us to take risks, learn from our experiences, and ultimately achieve greater success. Dweck’s insights remind us that our mindset can be a powerful determinant of our life outcomes. Thus, Dweck introduces the idea of two primary mindsets that shape how individuals approach challenges and learning:
Fixed Mindset: Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities, intelligence, and talents are static and unchangeable. They often avoid challenges, fear failure, and seek validation of their intelligence. This mindset can lead to a lack of resilience and a tendency to give up easily when faced with obstacles.[4]
Growth Mindset: In contrast, those with a growth mindset see their abilities as qualities that can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. They embrace challenges, learn from criticism, and view failures as opportunities for growth. This mindset fosters resilience and a love for learning.[5]
Dweck’s Mindset, reminds me of these two books in my library:
“Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones,” by James Clear. This book focuses on how small changes can lead to significant improvements over time, reinforcing the idea that consistent effort and a growth-oriented approach can transform our lives.[6]
“Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth. In this book, Duckworth explores the idea that success is not just about talent but also about grit—defined as a combination of passion and perseverance. She emphasizes the importance of hard work and resilience in achieving long-term goals, aligning well with Dweck’s concepts of growth mindset.[7]
The above two books complement Dweck’s ideas and provide practical strategies for personal development and success.
Growth mindset key lessons from Dweck:
- Encourages individuals to take on challenges as opportunities to improve rather than threats to their self-worth.
- Emphasizes that effort is crucial for mastery. Success is not just about innate talent but about hard work and dedication.
- Praising effort rather than intelligence helps cultivate a growth mindset.
- Setbacks are seen as part of the learning process. Those with a growth mindset are more likely to bounce back and learn from their mistakes.
Additionally, I plan to use Dweck’s principles to impact my team members at work and within my network:
- Foster an atmosphere where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. Encourage others to take risks and learn from their failures without fear of judgment.
- Teach others to add “yet” to their statements about their abilities. For example, instead of saying “I can’t do this,” they can say “I can’t do this yet.” This simple shift reinforces the idea that growth is possible.
- Demonstrate my own willingness to learn and grow. Perhaps share my experiences with challenges and how I overcame them. This sets an example for others to follow.
- Foster an atmosphere where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth.
- Continue to praise individuals for their efforts, strategies, and perseverance rather than their innate abilities. This helps shift people’s focus from fixed traits to the value of hard work and learning.
- Acknowledge and celebrate small wins and progress.
My journey:[8]
- Accepting both mindsets as I operate within both bubbles.
- Embracing my fixed mindset and acknowledge it. It is not a shameful admission.
- Recognizing what triggers my fixed mindset
- Giving my fixed mindset persona a name. (sounds weird).
- Learning to gradually remain in the growth mindset.
- Continuous learning and seeking to help others on their journey as well.
- What does a fixed mindset make me think, feel, do and how does these affect those around us?
Conclusion
Mindset is a practical book. It has potential to reshape my understanding of success and personal growth. I agree with Dweck, as she emphasizes, that our beliefs about our abilities can significantly influence our paths in life. Moving forward, I aim to apply the lessons from Mindset not only to my own endeavors but also to inspire those around me to embrace their potential for growth.
[1] Carol Dweck, Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Your Full Potential, (Great Britain: Robinson, 2017).
[2] Dweck, 25.
[3] Carol S. Dweck, “The Power of Believing That You Can Improve,” Observer, Association for Psychological Science, accessed November 6, 2024, https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/dweck-growth-mindsets.
[4] Dweck, 12.
[5] Dweck, 12.
[6] James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (New York: Avery, 2018).
[7] Angela Duckworth, The Power of Passion and Perseverance (New York: Scribner, 2016).
[8] Dweck, 267-268.
About the Author
Shela Sullivan
Born and raised on the vibrant Penang Island in Malaysia, I cherish the Malaysian greeting, “Mari Makan!!” which reflects the warmth of shared meals. Since 1996, I have called Oregon my home enjoying the raindrops and the serenity of its beaches. The ocean connects me to nature and energizes me. I am a Wife - Mentor - Traveling Pastor - Sourcing Manager Construction. Favorite Bible Verse: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~ Psalm 37:4~ I reside with my husband, David and our fur-baby Rolo. We share passions for travelling, culture, diverse cuisines, home improvements, classic cars and humor.10 responses to “Always Growing… [Sentiasa Berkembang]”
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Shela,
Nicely done, I appreciate your discussing how you will use this in your work context. If it is not too personal, is there an area where you tend to have a fixed mindset? Also, have you come up with a name for this fixed mindset? I love that idea.
Thank you, Jeff, for reading my blog and for the questions.
Is there an area where you tend to have a fixed mindset?
Yes, rework makes me give up easily. I like to make it right the first time. After the 3rd revision I have tendency to give up. It is like, what’s the point spending so much time on something I cannot get it right.
Have you come up with a name for this fixed mindset?
No, it is so weird. If I were to give it a name, it would be Shela. Even if I give it a name like, Lucy, it is still me.
Cheers!
Hi Shela, I like how you talked about the correlation to your journey. In your role as a traveling pastor do you see a way that you might include these concepts in your preaching that might connect to our faith with the congregations you serve?
Hi! Diane, thank you for your question.
First, I can emphasize the biblical principle of transformation and growth found in scriptures like Romans 12:2, which encourages believers to be renewed in their minds. This aligns well with the growth mindset, as it suggests that through faith, effort, and God’s guidance, we can continually develop our character and abilities.
Second, I can share personal stories and testimonies that illustrate the journey of overcoming challenges through a growth mindset. By highlighting how perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges have strengthened my faith, I can inspire congregants to adopt a similar perspective in their own lives.
Hi Shela, I enjoyed your practical application plan for your staff. From what I have seen, you seem to be someone who naturally leans more to having a growth mindset in life. I’m curious if there is a skill or something you’ve found personally that is especially helpful in cultivating a growth mindset?
Thank you, Kari for asking this question.
One skill that has been particularly helpful in cultivating a growth mindset is self-reflection. This practice involves regularly assessing my experiences, challenges, and responses. Through reflection, I can set realistic, incremental goals based on my progress, making the path to improvement more manageable and motivating. For instance, I establish my goals on my birthday, which holds me accountable for my actions, as I prefer this approach over New Year’s resolutions.
I also make it a point to acknowledge my efforts, no matter how small, by expressing gratitude to God and the Holy Spirit. This reinforces the idea that growth results from hard work and persistence, aligning with Dweck’s emphasis on effort over innate ability. I don’t boast about my achievements; instead, I find comfort in knowing that I am loved by God.
Shela,
I too connected this book to Grit and to Atomic Habits. Both of which I read around this book. Atomic Habits encourages us to do something for 2 minutes to develop the start of a habit. Is there a 2 minute thing you have started to facilitate more of a growth mindset habit?
Thank you for your question, Adam. Good to hear that you relate to Grit and Atomic Habits too.
Yes, I practice the 2-minute rule. Here’s how to do it:
Set a Timer: I allocate two minutes during lunch or when I take a break.
These are the two questions I frequently attempt in 2 minutes (1 pick one):
1. What effort did I put into to make someone feel that they matter? I usually text one person to say I am thinking of him/her.
2. What effort did I put into something that mattered to me?
I journal my thoughts afterwards.
How about you?
Thanks Shela. Brilliant connecting it to Atomic Habits also. I’ve not read it yet, but it is on my list.
How can adopting a growth mindset help you reframe setbacks and challenges as opportunities for learning, and what practical steps can you take to encourage this perspective in your daily life?
Shela, thank you for your post. In your exploration of fixed and growth mindsets, you discuss the importance of fostering a growth-oriented environment for yourself and others. What specific challenges have you faced in implementing these mindset principles in your life and at work, and how have those experiences shaped your approach to empowering others?