IN ORDER TO LEARN AND GROW WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF IT. Why throw ourselves into new experiences if we don’t believe we are actually learning from them? Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck originated the terms fixed mindset and growth mindset. A fixed mindset is one that “assumes our character, intelligence, and creative abilities are static,” (Popova 2018). Whereas a growth mindset “thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of intelligence but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities,” (Popova 2018).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Imagine there are two farmers, let's just say there's one that grows beets and one that grows corn. The one that grows beets is constantly researching and keeping up with all the new ways to grow his crops, for example he discovers a way to harvest the beets that is more environmentally friendly. The corn farmer is a stubborn old man in his rocking chair on the front porch that has been growing his corn the same way for the last 30 years and is not willing to explore new ways to grow it, even though he knows there are more environmentally friendly options out there. The two different farmers represent the growth vs fixed mindset. The growth mindset is primed to cultivate in new ways and explore opportunity, whereas the fixed mindset is okay with settling for what works. 

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