Mindset - encourage the change

I had set myself a rather large goal of reading 2 books per week in the summer while on uni break in a post I wrote a few weeks back.

This week I have finally finished reading (listening to) the book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck.

This book was particularly helpful through the study period for me.  I am what Dweck would call, primarily, a fixed mindset type of person.  Someone who would prefer success to look effortless and whose confidence is vulnerable to great shift/change.  I'm someone who takes all possible steps to avoid failure. 

I'm sure there are a few of you who can relate.

Where the book really engaged me was that Dweck believes abilities are things which can be cultivated through hard work - not just some magical talent that you were born with and have forever.  For me, I've always envied people I believed were born with great academic or sporting abilities (or what I perceived were inherent abilities).  I never for once believed that they worked harder than I did and that's why they were more successful at something than I was, or that perhaps their goals were more focussed and maybe they stopped making excuses (which is what I would do when I didn't achieve something - and kinda still do!).

I had convinced myself of the myth about ability and intelligence and by making excuses I was protecting my confidence and ego. 

What my take away from this book will be is that I need to turn my focus to learning and improving.  This way I don't always need that confidence and ego boost.  I can enjoy my learning without knowing I'll be the best at it first time around.  My effort will be a positive constructive force rather than a chore - or I'm going to try and make it less of a chore and through my sustained effort and mental strength I will be able to develop the skills I need for greatness in whatever area of life I choose to channel that effort.

What I find difficult about Dweck's book is that it would take a significant change in mindset at all levels; parenting, teaching, managing staff etc to really institute a change to from a fixed mindset where you praise ability and talent to a growth mindset where you praise hard work and effort.  How many times did your parents tell you you had a gift or were talented at something?  Most people seem to think if you're naturally brilliant that this is somehow better than you achieving something through hard work - strange societal paradigm right?

That change of mindset will be tough and I don't suspect it will happen in greater society, but for those who have changed from the fixed to the growth mindset, those who have worked hard and learnt alot, would probably say that it was all worth it and would encourage the change.  I'm going to encourage the change.

Questions I'm asking myself everyday and maybe you should too - what are my opportunities for learning and growth today? Where can I stop making excuses and work a little harder to achieve what I want?

Elle

ps. sorry I haven't written lately - just recovering from the post-study madness!