No matter who you are or how you grew up, you can improve your life if you want to. Some may argue with how that’s not possible and all the reasons why. That’s due to what’s called a fixed mindset.

The key to improving your life is to have a growth mindset. It starts with a choice to grow and then finding the way. There are many benefits to having a growth mindset and I’ll show you what they are and how to develop this empowering way to think.

If you’ll adopt a growth mindset, you’ll have a successful life.

WHAT A GROWTH MINDSET IS

The term growth mindset refers to the concept developed by psychologist Carol Dweck. She explains a mindset as a self-perception. In other words, how you see yourself.

Her work focuses on the distinction between fixed and growth mindsets.

Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, & input from others) have a growth mindset. – Carol Dweck

Someone with a growth mindset improves their life because they believe they can.

HOW A GROWTH MINDSET IMPROVES YOUR LIFFE

Benefits your relationships

Someone with a fixed mindset has set expectations in relationships. When these aren’t met, they feel the relationship is doomed. There’s no room for change.

However, when you have a growth mindset you understand relationships take work because people aren’t perfect, and things don’t always go as planned. That doesn’t mean the relationship is wrong or must end. People are different. They think different, feel different, process information differently. Because of this, disagreements are bound to happen.

Healthy relationships require both parties to learn about each other and how to communicate effectively.  A Growth mindset gives plenty of room for grace and forgiveness instead of judgment.

This builds strong relationships.

Increases your self-esteem

A fixed mindset is prone to depression and infamous for low self-esteem. This is due to the feeling of being stuck that breeds a lack of hope.

A growth mindset doesn’t expect perfection and therefore isn’t self-condemning. It not only understands mistakes and setbacks occur and answers with grace, but it also is lesson-minded. It looks for the opportunity to learn from the mistake or setback, and then grow.

The lack of self-condemnation as well lesson-mindedness reduces the inclination to depression.

Develops a positive outlook

Anywhere you find cynicism you’ll find a fixed mindset. A cynic expects the worst and lacks hope.

A growth mindset, on the other hand, will see what the cynic sees but respond differently. They’ll look beyond the issue for solutions and/or positive ways to deal with it.

This positive outlook creates positive change and fosters optimism, not only in themselves but those around them.

You enjoy life more

Because there’s no hope for change in a fixed mindset it creates an underlying feeling of misery. The position is of a powerless victim. Feeling trapped in your life, cynicism, and negative outlooks are not fun.

On the contrary, when a person with a growth mindset comes up against those same negative things, they have hope and expect change. This powerful attitude brings about change.

Hope feels good. Having a positive outlook and good relationships are things that add enjoyment to life.

Turns criticism into a powerful tool

Criticism, even well-meaning constructive criticism, is received as attacking by a fixed mindset. They feel the need to defend and argue.

A person with a growth mindset welcomes criticism as an opportunity to grow. They’re not threatened by their imperfection or other people’s meanness.

Their desire to learn and grow will find something useful even harsh criticism.

An overcoming attitude

Fixed mindsets give up quickly. They see difficulties as an impenetrable wall.

Those holding to a growth mindset believe the old proverb that where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Even when it looks impossible, they’ll grab ahold of hope and look for the way to put a door in that wall of impossibility, find a ladder to go over or find a shovel to dig underneath.

A growth mindset is powerful like a seed that can break through concrete as it grows.

A more powerful mind

When a person has a fixed mindset, they think that what they have and who they are is set in stone.

People with a growth mindset are continuous learners. This continuous learning exercises the mind and has multiple benefits.

Studies show that continuous learning increases memory and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s. This is because the memory is honed through continuous practice.

Increases your financial success

Financial success isn’t about where you were born or how smart you are. These concepts are part of a fixed mindset.

The continuous and increased learning found in the growth mindset fosters behavior that breeds financial success. Things like confidence, working well with others, ingenuity and solution mindedness.

One survey, for example, found that 65% of adults who pursued professional learning activities expanded their professional network. And 47% claimed it helped them advance in their current company. source.

A growth mindset produces qualities in a person that makes them a great asset to their company.

Accomplishes things

Because people who have a fixed mindset give up easily, they don’t accomplish things they are capable of. This feeds their fixed mindset.

The tenacity and resilience found in a growth mindset empower people to accomplish great things. They push through difficulties. They overcome obstacles. They tap into grit.

These qualities carry them over many finish lines of accomplishment.

BUILDING A GROWTH MINDSET

Does the idea of building a growth mindset overwhelm you?

Let me encourage you. There may be people who naturally have such a mindset. I did not.

I built my growth mindset, so I know it’s possible to do.

The key is process. Learning is a process. Growth is a process. Changing how you think is a process. The Bible calls this kind of growth glory to glory.

It’s a graceful process like a flower bud slowly opening.

It will transform your life permanently just as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, or a tadpole turns into a frog.

You’ll never regret building a growth mindset.

TOOLS TO BUILD A GROWTH MINDSET

Settle it in your heart that growing this new mindset will take time.

• Feed your curiosity. Curiosity wants to learn, wants more, wants to go and see and do. Ask questions and feed your sense of wonder.
• Read inspiring stories. Transformation stories. Fiction is good but non-fiction can be even more powerful.
• Laugh at your mishaps, mistakes, and setbacks. Remind yourself no one is perfect. These things happen. Share an embarrassing story with someone and laugh together. This will remind you that you’re not alone, and also help them feel not alone too.
• Mindshift using words. For example, add the word yet to your vocabulary. When you fall short of accomplishing something tell yourself you didn’t fail, you haven’t accomplished it – yet.

Do just one thing instead of trying to do everything.

Growing is a transformation process, not a performance.

WHAT NOW

• How much of a growth mindset do you have?
• Take this free test (no email required) and find out. growth mindset quiz pdf
• Look at the list of benefits above and ways to build then find one thing you can do to build. Let me know in the comments so I can cheer you on.
• Get my book Emerging With Wings here and be inspired to grow.
• Subscribe to my email list and make your life what you want it to be.

Danielle Bernock

Author, Coach, and Speaker helping men, women, and organizations EMERGE with clear vision of their value, TAKE ownership of their choices, and CHART a path to their promise, becoming Victorious Souls who Embrace The Change from survive to thrive through the power of the love of God

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