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Page 1: Growth Mindset vs Fixed MindsetMindset+Fi… · A growth mindset is the belief that even though you may not have certain qualities, you can develop them through learning and practise

POWERtoLiveMore.com

Growth Mindset

vs Fixed Mindset

Page 2: Growth Mindset vs Fixed MindsetMindset+Fi… · A growth mindset is the belief that even though you may not have certain qualities, you can develop them through learning and practise

How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life - Page 1

How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life Kay was the daughter of alcoholic parents and she spent most of her childhood trying to care for her younger siblings. She struggled to learn how to read and write, due to an undiagnosed learning disorder. Her primary school teacher frequently mocked and taunted her, often calling Kay ‘dummy’.

As a result, Kay didn’t do well at school and believed she was stupid. She’d always dreamed of helping people as a nurse but she didn’t get the qualifications. Instead, she worked at a local restaurant as a waitress.

But Annette, the owner of the restaurant, believed in Kay. She encouraged the younger woman to study so she could go to University.

Annette said, “You have a fixed mindset and that’s holding you back from what you really want.”

What Is a Fixed Mindset?

A fixed mindset is the idea that you were born with or without certain qualities and talents. You may think things like, “I’m not good at reading. I never have been”. Or you might say, “I want to paint landscapes but I wasn’t born an artist”.

The problem with a fixed mindset is that it keeps you stuck. You limit your experiences and your feelings based on what you think you can achieve.

But there is an alternative point of view and that’s called a growth mindset.

How Does a Fixed Mindset Impact You?

A fixed mindset can affect every area of your life even if you don’t realise it. For example, it can affect your finances. You might say things like, “I’ve never had a head for numbers so I’m not going to use a monthly budget system”.

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Another part of your life where a fixed mindset can be troublesome is with your health. You might think, “Diabetes already runs in my family so there’s no sense in making any healthy choices. I’ll probably just get it, too”.

Your fixed mindset can cause problems in your relationships as well. You may believe you can’t change and neither can the other person. For example, you may think, “Well, my friend’s always been insensitive to my needs. She won’t change now”. Or you might say, “I’ve never got along with my mother. We just don’t see eye-to-eye on anything”.

Are You Willing to Let Go of a Fixed Mindset?

Kay explained to Annette the troubles she had had in school and Annette helped her get tested for learning disabilities. When Kay realised her brain processed information differently and that’s why she had struggled for years, she cried.

For the first time, Kay began to believe it was possible that she could become a nurse. She no longer saw her skills and abilities as fixed. Instead, she embraced the idea that with time and help, she could still continue her education and pursue her dreams.

JournalYourThoughts

1. How is a fixed mindset impacting your relationships?

2. How is a fixed mindset affecting your finances?

3. What is a fixed mindset doing to your health?

What Does a Growth Mindset Look Like? Nicole was in her forties when she realised she was unhappy with her life. She had a beautiful home, a wonderful marriage, and two teenage children that she loved. But Nicole felt stuck in a rut. Each day, she travelled the same path to work, ate the same meals, and went home to have the same conversations with her family.

When she overheard someone at work use the term ‘growth mindset’, she looked it up and realised that’s what she’d been missing. “I was being so careful to do everything right - to

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colour in the lines. But when I heard about growth mindset, I knew that’s what my life was lacking - growth. I’d stopped trying new things and experimenting.”

What Is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that even though you may not have certain qualities, you can develop them through learning and practise. If you have a growth mindset, you might say things like, “If I practise my writing skills, I can get better at creating novels”. Or you might say, “I can learn to quilt if I take a class about it”.

The beauty of a growth mindset is that it gives you freedom. You’re free to try new things, experiment, and study the results. With a growth mindset, the outcome of a situation doesn’t become your identity.

How Can You Lean into a Growth Mindset?

Developing a growth mindset doesn’t mean that you have to do something radical like sell all of your possessions and move halfway across the world. Having a growth mindset is more about staying open to new experiences and new people.

It can be as simple as a willingness to try a hip hop dance class at your local gym, change your comfortable routines, and seek out new relationships with people who are different from you.

What If You Surprised Yourself?

Nicole surprised herself by signing up for acting classes. She’d always loved musicals and she liked the idea of performing in front of a crowd. So, she gave it a try and enjoyed it a lot.

The classes had a perk that she hadn’t counted on either – increased confidence. She felt bold and empowered again. This helped her lead more effective presentations at work and within a few months, her boss promoted her.

Of course, not every surprise has been wonderful. Nicole also signed up for a knitting group. “I loved the people there but I quickly discovered that knitting wasn’t my thing. Still, I’m glad I was willing to give the experience a try.”

A growth mindset is a wonderful way to go through life. It means embracing the unknown and being willing to take risks, even when it feels a little bit scary (and fun!).

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JournalYourThoughts

1. How can you lean into a growth mindset?

2. Who do you know that has a growth mindset? What have you learned from their example?

3. What could you do this week to surprise yourself?

4 Lies You Can Defeat with a Growth Mindset A fixed mindset makes it hard to create the life and relationships you want. That’s because a fixed mindset often results in making choices based on incorrect beliefs. Some of these beliefs may have begun in childhood, later in life, or after a traumatic experience. But regardless of when they started, you can overcome these ‘lies’ to live the life of your dreams.

Mindset Lie #1: I’m not good at (blank).

For years, Joanna told herself she wasn’t good at painting. She’d always longed to seriously study it but she worried the money she spent would be wasted. Then a friend suggested she approach the situation with a growth mindset.

So, Joanna decided to give painting a try. She signed up for art classes that she could attend in the evenings after work. Whenever she was tempted to tell herself she wasn’t talented, Joanna would say “I am learning about art and improving my skills”.

Mindset Lie #2: I’m too old to do (blank).

Melissa was enjoying her retirement when she was cleaning out her attic with the help of her teenage grandson. When he found an old stack of notebooks, he asked what they were. Melissa explained that they were stories she’d written when she was younger. “I always wanted to be an author. But now, I’m too old to do it.”

Her grandson reminded her of their favourite family saying, “I change at any stage of life”. Then he encouraged her to believe in herself and send out her book for possible publication.

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Mindset Lie #3: I don’t have enough time to do (blank).

Paige was a busy mum with two toddlers. She wanted to start her own business to support her family but she was already busy working a full-time job and raising her daughters. But her mum challenged her to try anyway, “even if you can only devote a few minutes to it each day”.

So, Paige focused on taking one small action every day and within a year, she was earning enough to stay at home full-time. She did it by embracing a growth mindset and saying out loud, “I choose to make space in life for my new adventure”.

Mindset Lie #4: I can’t risk failure.

Danielle wanted to move to London to pursue an acting career. But even though she kept talking about it, she never actually did it. When she began exploring what she was afraid of, she realised she didn’t want to fail in front of her family and friends.

To overcome this, she reminded herself, “Failure is an event; not my identity”. Then she began doing activities she knew she would fail at the first time like surfing, yoga, and rock climbing. But each failure helped her

realise that she could still get back up again.

Defeating mindset lies can be difficult on your own. You may want to reach out to a trusted friend or life coach. They can guide and support you as you lean into your new mindset.

JournalYourThoughts

1. Which of the four ‘lies’ resonates with you the most?

2. What could you do to challenge that lie?

3. Who could you reach out to for guidance and support as you lean into a new mindset?

What's Keeping You Stuck in a Fixed Mindset? Erin had been obese for years. She had tried various diets and strategies. While she always lost some weight, it eventually returned. She was at her wit’s end until she began to research

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mindset issues. The more she read, the more she understood her fixed mindset was keeping her from reaching her goals.

You can probably relate to Erin’s story.

There’s an area of your life that you want to change. You may have tried several times only to fail again and again. If you seem to always be stuck in the same starting position, your mindset might be tripping you up. Here are three common causes of mindset issues…

You Worry about Friends & Family

When Janet wanted to leave her corporate job to become a blogger, she listened to advice from all her friends and family. She even let them talk her out of making the big leap. She thought she was doing the right thing by playing it safe.

While friends and family mean well, they don’t want to see you get hurt. They naturally want to protect you. This doesn’t mean your family doesn’t want what’s best for you or that they’re genuinely trying to hold you back.

You Tell Yourself the Same Stories

Everyone carries around stories. Some of the stories you carry are true and some of them aren’t. Sorting through them can take time but if you can identify the story holding you back,

you can make progress toward your goals.

Maybe you find yourself thinking things like, “I’m not good enough. I can’t change. I deserve to have bad things happen. I’m not smart enough”.

When you hear these thoughts, don’t accept them as truth. Instead, take time to ask, “Where did this story come from? Is it still true today? If not, why am I still holding onto it?”.

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You’ll have to Create a New Identity

Erin realised that she was worried that by losing weight, she’d lose her identity. She would no longer be the funny, fat girl. People would notice her and she feared what would happen if they didn’t like what they saw.

So, Erin turned to a counsellor who helped her to work through her emotions. The counsellor helped Erin to see that she could create a new identity that would fit her changing body.

Letting go of a fixed mindset isn’t an overnight process. Often, it takes weeks or months to work through all of the emotions. So, be kind to yourself and practise empathy as you walk through your own personal transformation.

JournalYourThoughts

1. Have you let friends and family talk you out of a decision that you knew was the right step?

2. What stories do you tell yourself? Are they true?

3. If you embraced a growth mindset, how would your identity change?

Embracing a Growth Mindset Developing your growth mindset isn’t something you can do in a day or two. It takes time to cultivate an attitude that embraces growth. Reading books on mindset that encourage you to think positively is a great first step. Here are four books that can be helpful on your journey…

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Carol Dweck is an expert in developmental psychology and well-known from her popular TED Talk, The Power of Believing that You Can Improve.

In Mindset, Carol describes the key differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. She then goes on to explain how these mindsets affect every area of your life including your relationships, your education, and your business.

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You Are a Bad Ass by Jen Sincero

Jen Sincero is a success coach who helps her clients go after what they really want in life and business. She’s also a popular speaker for events and conferences. She’s written several best-selling books including You Are a Bad Ass.

In her book, she challenges people to stop settling for “OK” lives and instead work towards their dreams. Each chapter is short and Jen shares many funny stories from her life, making it an easy and quick read.

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth has spent years studying neurobiology and neuroscience to learn why some people succeed while others fail. Her research showed overwhelmingly that those who succeed aren’t necessarily the smartest or most talented.

In fact, successful people tend to have two characteristics in common: passion and perseverance. Filled with inspiring stories about world-famous CEOs and famous athletes, Grit is an eye-opening read that will inspire and challenge you.

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin

Amy Morin is a social worker and counsellor. After dealing with the loss of several loved ones, she began writing a list of 13 things that mentally strong people don’t do. The list turned into a book that became a best-seller.

Although Amy doesn’t expressly talk about a fixed mindset, her tips and advice are perfect for embracing a growth mindset. In each chapter, she shares stories from people who are facing obstacles and overcoming them.

Reading books may not seem like mindset work. But by immersing yourself in these topics, you’ll begin to understand how the human mind works and what you’re truly capable of. Often, reading books about mindset can be just the thing you need to trigger personal transformation.

JournalYourThoughts

1. What books have inspired your personal growth?

2. How often do you watch TED Talks and other inspirational content?

3. What have you learned in the past year that's changed how you view yourself?

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Growth Mindset VS Fixed Mindset Printable Workbook Now, it’s time to dig deep and learn more about yourself. Try to find a quiet place so you can spend some time reflecting on the questions. Share your honest thoughts here – there’s no judgement or right answer. You are free to journal, brainstorm and doodle in this space.

[From: How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life] 1. How is a fixed mindset impacting your relationships?

2. How is a fixed mindset affecting your finances?

3. What is a fixed mindset doing to your health?

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How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life - Page 10

[From: What Does a Growth Mindset Look Like?] 1. How can you lean into a growth mindset?

2. Who do you know that has a growth mindset? What have you learned from their example?

3. What could you do this week to surprise yourself?

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How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life - Page 11

[From: 4 Lies You Can Defeat with a Growth Mindset] 1. Which of the four lies resonates with you the most?

2. What could you do to challenge that lie?

3. Who could you reach out to for guidance and support as you lean into a new mindset?

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How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life - Page 12

[From: What’s Keeping You Stuck in a Fixed Mindset?] 1. Have you let friends and family talk you out of a decision that you knew was the right step?

2. What stories do you tell yourself? Are they true?

3. If you embraced a growth mindset, how would your identity change?

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How a Fixed Mindset Limits Your Life - Page 13

[From: Embracing a Growth Mindset] 1. What books have inspired your personal growth?

2. How often do you watch TED Talks and other inspirational content?

3. What have you learned in the past year that's changed how you view yourself?