A growth mindset isn’t just a feel-good notion, or along the lines of toxic positivity! Mindset is a powerful tool for personal development and flourishing.

Think of it as the fertile soil where our aspirations grow into reality. When we adopt an open/positive mindset, we invite the possibility of growth and change into our lives. Instead of being held back by thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t do this,” we learn to recognize these self-limiting beliefs and gently guide ourselves towards more empowering thoughts.

A growth mindset means that you believe your intelligence and talents can be developed over time, through effort and learning. A fixed mindset means that you believe intelligence is fixed and static; for example, if you’re not good at riding a bike, you might believe you’ll never be good at it. Psychologist Dweck, from Stanford University, states that in a growth mindset, “students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence.”

Here are some tips on transitioning from a fixed to a growth mindset:

1. Acknowledge and embrace imperfections

Failing is a part of the process. Allowing yourself to fail and to move on from it will put you in a much better position to succeed down the line. Don’t let the little imperfections stall you from learning how to overcome them. Failure is actually an opportunity for learning and growth. Replacing the word “failing” with “learning” can be helpful, because you learn what strategies work or not work for you.

2. View challenges as opportunities

When we experience obstacles throughout life, as we inevitably do, it can be beneficial to look at it as an opportunity to improve on habits or behaviors we may not be so good at. Many times we may see it more as an inconvenience or a frustration, but part of a growth mindset is learning to embrace challenging moments.

3. Try different learning tactics

There are many different ways to learn. Part of the growth mindset is finding that learning style that best suits you and applying it to all sorts of different skills that you may want to undertake.

4. Stop seeking approval

Learning should be for its own sake and everything else secondary. If you rely on just approval from others as your metric for learning then you’re sacrificing your own growth. Everyone does seek some level of approval or recognition, but not allowing it to overpower the learning process.

5. Utilize feedback as a positive

You don’t have to use the term, “constructive criticism,” but you do have to believe that the concept of being positive leads to learning. Feedback is also associated with a pleasurable dopamine response and enhances a growth mindset.

6. Get out of your comfort zone

Being brave enough to leave your comfort zone can help foster a growth mindset. When faced with a challenge, try to choose the harder option that will allow you to grow.

7. Own your attitude

Once you develop a growth mindset, own it. Acknowledge yourself as someone who possesses a growth mentality and be proud to let it guide you throughout your career.

Lastly, a growth mindset also recognizes that setbacks are a necessary part of the learning process and allows people to ‘bounce back’ by increasing motivational effort. This kind of mindset sees ‘failings’ as temporary and changeable, and as such, a growth mindset is crucial for learning, resilience, motivation, and performance.

References:

Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: How what you think affects what you achieve (mindsethealth.com)

12 Advantages Of A Growth Mindset That Could Accelerate Your Career (forbes.com)

Happy November! May the Holiday season treat us well and make space for an opportunity to connect with others and ourselves.

Today I’d like to take the opportunity to speak about mattering, a concept I recently came across in one of my readings, and circles back to the concept of loneliness I spoke about last month.

Mattering may even help reduce mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and overall stress of being a human during uncertain times.

A quote that resonates well for this concept is “Nothing exists by itself alone.

We all belong to each other; we cannot cut reality into pieces” by Thich Nhat Hanh. What I think this quote refers to is that we are all intertwined and interconnected to one another and each of us plays a part in the greater whole.In the intricate web of existence, amid the challenges and uncertainties, the concept of mattering shines brightly.

Mattering is the profound recognition that our lives are intertwined with each other and more connected than we think.

To matter signifies that our thoughts, actions, feelings and choices have a lasting impact, leaving a trace and/or legacy behind us, in the next generation passed down through our children. Embracing the idea of mattering means acknowledging our life force within us in the grand scheme of things. It is the understanding that our existence is not arbitrary; rather, we are essential strands intricately woven together as we are interconnected.

In an article written by Gordon L. Flett, he identifies eight important aspects about Mattering:

1. Mattering is powerful.

The power of mattering is evident in its ability to change the lives of individuals who experience that they matter from their peers/family.

2. Mattering is a vital source of resilience & adaptability.

When an individual feels that they matter, they are more resilient to adversities like stress or anxiety. Alternatively, those who do not experience a sense of mattering when they are exposed to adversity, are at risk and vulnerable.

3. Mattering is modifiable.

How one obtains a sense of mattering can be changed based on different circumstances and individuals. It is not set to specific parameters, rather individuals can learn to cultivate it flexibly.

4. Mattering is central to how people define themselves.

Mattering is strongly linked to the self. Positive reactions occur in the self when one feels like they matter, while negative reactions occur when the self feels like they don’t.

5. Mattering is pertinent across the lifespan.

Some research that has been conducted among adults suggest that mattering is closely linked to well-being throughout their lives. Feelings of not mattering are more closely linked to depression.

6. Mattering is relevant to our current times.

Mattering can help the challenges of uncertain times such as war and sickness. It is even seen as a core element in enduring such events.

7. Mattering is universal.

The differences in mattering have been studied across the world in many different countries, all of which show that there are similarities in the need to matter. It should be noted though that comparative cross-cultural research has not yet been conducted.

8. Mattering has great knowledge of mobilization potential.

Because mattering resonates with so many and is simple to understand, it is easier to spread awareness and knowledge on the subject that seems to be intuitive to human beings.

Identifying these eight pillars of mattering creates an opportunity to create space to grow, expand and stretch in new ways of being. It adds purpose and meaning to our everyday tasks and daily responsibilities. It gives us a sense that we are connected and that how we choose to live our lives and carry ourselves in the world impacts others around us. For example, every smile shared, every act of kindness, and every moment of compassion spreads far beyond ourselves, impacting the collective human experience. How we show up matters. How we choose to act or not act towards others matters. What we think, behave and feel matters.

Mattering is recognizing the truth that being connected, belonging in a community, reminds us that we are not isolated beings but integral contributors to the ever-evolving story of humanity.

May we learn from history. May we wake up and do things differently. In recognizing our inherent worth, we find the strength to navigate challenges and foster a world where every individual is valued, and every life truly matters.

Source: An Introduction, Review, and Conceptual Analysis of Mattering as an Essential Construct and an Essential Way of Life