Could what you believe about yourself impact your journey to a fulfiled life?
According to research conducted by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, your beliefs play a pivotal role in what you want and whether you achieve it. Dweck has found that it is your mindset that plays a significant role in determining achievement and success.
So, what exactly is a mindset?
Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation. You see, your belief system is the invisible foundation on which you build all of your other beliefs and behaviours.
It is the bedrock of your self-esteem.
It is the soil from which your thoughts grow.
It is the weather vane that guides your behaviour. (Remember: “What you think about most affects what you become.”)
Your beliefs become your thoughts.
Your thoughts become your actions.
According to Carol Dweck, a number one bestselling author and psychologist. there are two basic mindsets: Fixed and Growth. If you have a fixed mindset, you believe your abilities are fixed traits and therefore can't be changed. You may also believe that your talent and intelligence alone lead to success, and effort is not required.
On the flip side, if you have a growth mindset, you believe that your talents and abilities can be developed over time through effort and persistence. People with this mindset don't necessarily believe that everyone can become Einstein or Mozart just because they try. They do, however, believe that everyone can get smarter or more talented if they work at it.
(You should take 10 minutes and watch Carol Dweck give her Ted Talk)
Here are some Fixed vs. Growth Mindset examples...
How to Unfix a Fixed Mindset
Focus on the journey, not the destination. When you become fixed on an end result, you miss out on the learnings and growth that comes inherent in the journey.
Use positive language. Words matter. What you say gives life. Following Dweck's wisdom, learn to say 'Yet'. If you're struggling with a task, remind yourself that you just haven’t mastered it “yet.”
When you fall down, and you will… get back up. Quitting is never an option for the person pursuing fulfilment. Be like Thomas Edison, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Take on challenges. Being challenged and overcoming is one of the best ways to learn and grow... and growth is the secret ingredient of fulfilment.