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How to Shift to the Growth Mindset (9 Examples)

Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it…

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📈 How to Shift to the Growth Mindset (9 Examples)

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to thrive on challenges while others shy away?

The secret often lies in having what’s known as a growth mindset.

You’ve probably heard about the concept of a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset.

This concept, popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.

This mindset contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals see their talents as innate and unchangeable. Embracing a growth mindset encourages continuous learning and resilience in the face of challenges.

Dweck describes the differences between the two as follows:

People with a fixed mindset believe their personal characteristics (like intelligence and skills) are largely set in stone and can’t be changed.

People with a growth mindset believe they can develop any personal quality or ability with enough persistence.

Now if you want to better develop this mindset, then here are 9 real-world examples of how to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset.

Let’s get started.

1. Intelligence

Dweck found that people's views on where intelligence comes from has a huge impact on their motivation to learn.

People with a fixed mindset believe they’re either born intelligent or not intelligent. 

People with a growth mindset see intelligence as something that can be gained with experience, so they frequently challenge themselves to learn new things.

So let’s take a look at a scenario to illustrate this concept. 

Imagine your boss approaches you with a new project that involves a new software program you have to learn.

Growth Mindset

“Sure, I can take on this new challenge. I’ve learned new software systems in the past, so I should be able to pick up on this one pretty quickly. I’ll learn as I go and will then be able to teach others.”

Fixed Mindset

“Hold on, my boss clearly meant to send this request to someone else. I’ve never heard of this software and I’ve never done this project before, so I can’t do this. I’ll respond and ask who I should forward this responsibility to.”

2. Goals

When you’re working on something, do you focus more on the process or on the final goal?

Growth mindset people don’t let obstacles get in the way. They find ways to work around them and only worry about the things that are within their control.

Fixed mindset people are often only motivated by external factors. They just want to get to the end and don’t really care about the process.

So let’s see an example between the two:

Growth Mindset

“Reaching my goal requires a lot of progression, so I’ve got a long way to go until I get there. Instead, all I need to do is focus on the next steps and milestones. I will achieve my goals if I dedicate myself to the process.”

Fixed Mindset

“I don’t really care how I get there, I just want to make it to the end. I may need to cut some corners along the way, but I’m not really passionate about this goal, so I don’t mind.”

3. Other People’s Success

When you see other people succeed, do you feel inspired to do the same? Or do you feel resentful because there is only but so much room at the top?

For instance, let’s say someone at work gained recognition for a recent project that improved the efficiency of a common process in the office.

This made everyone’s life a bit easier--even your own--and there’s been a lot of talk surrounding the “win” ever since.

How are you feeling?

Growth Mindset

You’re feeling great because a once-arduous task that took up a lot of your time has now become quick and simple. You’re so thankful for your co-worker’s efforts and join in with everyone else’s praise for this person.

Fixed Mindset

“First of all, it’s not that big of a deal and people should get over it. Secondly, what about that issue that I fixed a few months ago? Where was the recognition for that? I’m not going to add to the hype and praise my co-worker.”

4. Feedback

People with a fixed mindset hate feedback because they have to open themselves up to critiques and potentially negative comments.

On the other hand, people with a growth mindset welcome feedback because they see it as an opportunity to learn and improve themselves.

As an example, let’s talk about getting negative feedback from a friend about one of your habits that annoys her. 

Growth Mindset

With a growth mindset, you would consider the facts behind this feedback and look at it objectively. You recognize that you care for your friend and want her to feel comfortable around you. So you graciously accept this feedback and do your best to forever eliminate this bad habit.

Fixed Mindset

You feel defeated from this feedback, thinking that your friend doesn’t like you. 

5. Failure

People with a fixed mindset allow themselves to be defined by failure.

They feel that everyone is either naturally good at certain skills or will never be good at them.

They think: “Why should I waste time trying to do something that I will never be able to learn?”

As an example, right now people are spending more time at home, so they are trying new hobbies.

One hobby that has surged in popularity is baking bread, specifically sourdough bread. Baking sourdough is tough because it requires lots of trial and error, patience, and the ability to overcome challenges.

Let’s see how the two mindsets would handle the failure that’s often experienced with learning a new skill.

Growth Mindset

“It’s ok, everyone fails at this. There is a learning curve and a lot of variables that go into making a successful sourdough starter. This is just a temporary setback and I’ll get there. So I’ll assess what went wrong with the last recipe and try again.”

Fixed Mindset

“This baking bread stuff is pointless and a waste of my time. My sourdough breads are complete flops and I’ll never master this skill.”

6. Change

Change is inevitable. As technology expands, industries will change, and your way of life will constantly evolve. And if you want to keep up with society, you have to learn to embrace change.

People with a fixed mindset are fine with stagnation and are often resistant to change.

People with a fixed mindset recognize all the important and beneficial changes that have happened in their lifetimes. They recognize that they are not the same person that they were five or ten years ago.

So how did you react to change?

Growth Mindset

“I welcome change! I enjoy the challenge of learning new things so much that I’m hoping to be an active part of this change! I recognize that if we make a change and it doesn’t work out, we can go back and reassess our decision.”

Fixed Mindset

“Change? Why change anything, everything we do right now is working just fine like it always has. Why should I try to take a risk with any type of change?.”

7. Effort

If you really want to achieve a goal, then you need to be willing to give it your all and work hard for it.

Alternatively, if you feel just “meh” about an outcome, you might put in a bit of work, but you probably won’t make it a priority. You’ll do “just enough” to get by.

When it comes to the amount of effort, let’s see how the two mindsets would view it.

Growth Mindset

With a growth mindset, you’re willing to put effort toward learning and growing because you’re confident that you can. You see endless opportunities for growth, so you make the necessary effort to fill in your knowledge gaps.

Fixed Mindset

Effort? Do you have to? You don’t have much hope for your future in this subject--and frankly, you don’t really care. You will do the bare minimum to get by, and you’ll probably be checking your phone while you’re doing it.

8. Confidence

If you have a fixed mindset, you’re always trying to prove to other people (and to yourself) that your current skill level is enough. Otherwise, you will be seen as being inadequate and there is nothing you can do to change that.

However, with a growth mindset, your confidence comes from within and you usually don’t need outside validation. You know your strengths and where you have room for improvement, and you see yourself as a constant work in progress.

When thinking about your self-confidence, here’s how the mindsets differ...

Growth Mindset

“I’m confident in my ability to learn and become the best version of myself. I know I will always have some areas in my life that could use some improvement, and I have the sense of resiliency that is needed to face any challenge.”

Fixed Mindset

“I’m not confident in myself because I know lots of people who are smarter, more talented, and more skilled than I am. However, there is nothing I can do about it because this is just how I am.”

9. Attitude Toward Learning

Carol Dweck has been quoted saying,

“The belief that cherished qualities can be developed creates a passion for learning.”

So let’s talk about how the two mindsets view learning and self-education:

Growth Mindset

“There’s an opportunity to learn something? I’ll take it! I don’t know much about the topic and have never really been interested in it, but who knows, I may uncover a new passion or develop a new skill that I have never considered before!”

Fixed Mindset

“Take an art class? Why? I’m not interested in art and I’m not good at it. I’m also not creative, so why waste my time trying to learn about a creative hobby?”

Final Thoughts on the Growth Mindset

So there you have it -- 9 examples of the difference between a fixed and growth mindset.

Fortunately, most of your personal traits aren’t fixed.

You can choose to adopt a growth mindset at any time.

Shifting to a more growth-oriented mindset begins with recognizing and challenging your fixed mindset thoughts.

Start by identifying situations where you feel stuck or defeated and consciously reframe them as opportunities for growth and learning.

Embrace challenges, persist through obstacles, and view effort as a pathway to mastery.

Remember, every small step you take towards cultivating a growth mindset can compound over time, transforming your approach to life's hurdles and paving the way for continuous personal and professional development.

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⚙️1% Habit Idea

Today’s idea is a simple habit that can help you learn faster while retaining the same amount of information.. 

With the busyness of our everyday lives, finding time to indulge in our favorite podcasts and audiobooks can be challenging.

One quick fix is to try listening at accelerated speeds, specifically between 1.2X and 2X.

This technique – known as speed listening – not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches your life in various ways.

How Is Speed Listening Helpful?

Speed listening is a game changer. By adjusting playback speed, you can consume more content in less time.

For instance, an hour-long podcast listened to at 1.5X speed only takes 40 minutes.

This efficiency allows you to explore a broader range of topics, stay updated with the latest trends, and deepen your knowledge across multiple fields.

Moreover, many people find that they are more engaged and able to retain information better when listening at a slightly faster pace, as it reduces the likelihood of their mind wandering.

How to Get Started

Transitioning to speed listening is straightforward and can be done on most modern devices and apps. Here’s how you can start:

Step 1: Choose your platform.

Most podcast apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, as well as audiobook services like Audible, offer speed adjustment features.

Step 2: Adjust playback speed gradually.

Start by increasing the speed to 1.2X and allow yourself to adapt. Then, gradually increase to 1.5X or even 2X as you become more comfortable.

It’s essential to find a balance where you can still clearly understand and enjoy the content.

Step 3: Utilize playback features.

Use the app features such as rewind and bookmark to manage tricky sections. This ensures you don’t miss crucial information.

Step 4: Practice regularly to stay consistent.

The more you practice, the better your brain will adapt to comprehending accelerated speech.

By incorporating speed listening into your routine, you can unlock new dimensions of learning and personal development.

Whether you’re commuting, exercising, or simply relaxing, the speed listening technique transforms passive moments into powerful opportunities for growth and enjoyment.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

0️⃣  I Went from Reading 40 Books a Year to Reading 0 - Do you think reading more books always leads to greater success? In this thought-provoking article, the author challenges conventional wisdom about reading, revealing why he traded finishing 40 books a year for studying just one or two deeply. This piece is valuable for anyone seeking to prioritize action over endless consumption and make lasting improvements in their life.

📈 The 10-10-10 Rule, Advice on Life, & More - Are the things you once prayed for now the things you complain about? Sahil Bloom’s newsletter dives into this profound question, offering practical wisdom through the 10-10-10 Rule, a powerful tool for making better decisions by balancing short-term and long-term perspectives. This article is a must-read for anyone seeking clarity, gratitude, and actionable strategies to improve their life.

🎯 How to Win the War with Yourself - Are you fighting battles within yourself that no one else can see? In this thought-provoking episode, Ryan Holiday unpacks timeless Stoic principles, sharing personal stories and practical insights on humility, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.

🗓️ The Most Powerful Productivity Tool Ever Invented. (and how to use it) - This podcast episode explores the most powerful productivity tool ever created: your calendar. Carl Pullein explains how understanding the difference between tasks and events, using time blocking strategically, and trusting your calendar as a daily guide can help you manage your time, reduce overwhelm, and achieve more.

 Strategic Sacrifices [3-Step Method] - Are you willing to trade comfort today for excellence tomorrow? This insightful article by Ben Meer dives deep into the often-ignored sacrifices behind big goals, offering a powerful framework to clarify your priorities and create a life aligned with your values.

Thanks for reading.

Enjoy your weekend!

Talk soon.

Cheers,

Steve Scott 

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