Why is a Growth Mindset Important For Your Learning Journey

"Where your mind goes, your energy flows." - Unknown 

Today, right at this very moment in time, we want you to start thinking clearly.

Your thoughts and beliefs directly affect your actions and goals, and with that in mind today we’ll dive into why and how to harness your superpower asset – your growth mindset – to flourish, learn, and follow your dreams. 

What is a Growth Mindset?

Simply put your mindset is your most valuable asset; it lies underneath the surface of all of your thoughts and decisions – and has the power to change your life.

Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychologist from Stanford University, coined the term growth mindset. According to her, a growth mindset is a belief that you can develop your abilities, skills, and intelligence with time through hard work and effort. Brains and talent are just the starting place.

People with a growth mindset can embrace challenges better, and learn from criticism, they are grafters who love putting in the effort, and they find motivation from the success of others.

Highlighting the Qualities of Growth Mindset

When we look at someone with a growth mindset, the standout traits are:

• Passion for learning
• Resilience
• Accepts challenges
• Learning from failure
• Self-belief
• Positivity
• Self-disciplined
• Living in the moment

Why Growth Mindset is Important?

If we know one thing for sure, it is this - everyone has the potential to use this powerful asset to their advantage. There are endless big benefits to having a growth mindset!

Enhances self-esteem

A person with a growth mindset can recognise their own strengths and their weaknesses, and always works to improve them. Growth mindset fosters self-assurance and resilience in the face of criticism, it builds confidence along with a positive belief system, and a passion for learning new things. This is absolute key to your enhancing your self-esteem.

Reduces Mental Stress

Stress is the defining affliction of modern life — ubiquitous, unending, and seemingly unavoidable. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. A growth mindset can reduce stress in your life, especially in your career and within relationships. People with a growth mindset are robust and can manage stress much better than those with a fixed mindset. When you cultivate a growth mindset, you don’t worry so much about problems. Instead of wondering how you’ll get through a crisis, you ask yourself a far more constructive question: “What can I learn from this situation to better develop my skills?”

Accepts New Challenges & Creates a Love of Learning

People with a growth mindset are not afraid of challenges and eager to accept new ones. With a growth mentality, they don't see challenges as obstacles; instead, they see them as an exciting opportunity to learn and grow.

Improve Relationships

People with a growth mindset accept the flaws in their mates and colleagues, encourage self-improvement, and motivate those around them to become better people. They are the first to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions.

Embraces Failure with Positive Reflection

People tend to remain in their comfort zone because of fear of failure, however, with a growth mindset, people take failure as an opportunity to reflect and regroup, seeing failure or mistakes as a part of the learning process.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

Let’s dive into 3 steps you can implement today to help you achieve a growth mindset:

1.     Acknowledge Imperfection

The first step to developing a growth mindset is to become aware of your areas of improvement. Sweeping mistakes or inabilities under the carpet will only hinder your ability to attain success. We’re all born with imperfections, and it’s important for our own self-worth to acknowledge and embrace them.

2.    Ask for Constructive Feedback

Taking criticism can certainly be difficult at times, however, the purpose of constructive criticism is a valuable tool to look at things from another’s perspective with the end goal to make things better. By taking on feedback in a positive manner, it will provide you the chance to learn from your mistakes and, ultimately, to grow.

3.    Believe in Yourself

Loosen up a bit. Be goofy. Stop taking yourself too seriously. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in front of other people. Seeking approval from others can often discourage a growth mindset. Instead, learn to trust and believe in yourself. There is only one person you need to impress that will always be there for you – and that is you.

Final Word

I often come across talented professionals out there rocking one area of their life, only to be suffering in another with no access to their superpower mindset.

For most, cultivating optimal well-being is a journey. It takes practice, effort, active thinking, planning with pen to paper, and some realistic goal setting. Having a growth mindset is your key to motivation and taking the right steps towards continuous personal and professional development.

Once you fully instil change and manage to achieve a growth mindset—own it! Let it guide you throughout both your relationships and professional career.

With love,

Bec