I would first like to start off this article to encourage you, the reader, to go out and get a copy of Mindset by Carol Dweck. She is a world-renowned Stanford University Psychologist who has down years of research on achievement and success and how an individual’s mindset can make a huge difference.
There are two key mindsets, a fixed mindset
and a growth mindset.
An individual with a fixed mindset believes
that their basic qualities including but not limited to their intelligence,
character, or talent, are fixed traits and cannot change. An individual with a fixed mindset measure
themselves by successes that are documented and doing better than others. These individuals’ tend to avoid failure at
all costs, so if something is too difficult or too hard they tend to shy away,
because if they do fail, in their eyes they are not smart enough or skilled
enough. Put simply, if they can’t do it
easily the first time through, then they just assume they aren’t smart or good
enough. These individuals also feel the
need to prove themselves constantly which creates extra stress and anxiety.
A growth mindset individual takes on the
idea that failure is not evidence of unintelligence but instead an opportunity
for growth and to learn. Growth mindset
individuals like to take on new challenges.
This mindset allows an individual to expand on their existing basic
qualities and grow as an individual. In
other words, with the growth mindset dedication and hard work can get you
further in life. This mindset allows an
individual to develop a love of learning and resilience in tough times to get
through something that might be particularly challenging at a certain time. These individuals don’t focus on proving
anything to anyone else but are more focused on their own development and
growth.
We develop these mindsets from a young age,
and the thing is that our surroundings are what shape us. If you are a coach or teacher, I highly
recommend you do some more research into this topic. Something as simple as how you speak to the
kids or the words you use to communicate to them, can develop a specific
mindset with in a child without you even knowing. The way society is these days, the fixed
mindset tends to overtake the growth mindset within individuals. What I believe is that we need to get more
education out to individuals shaping these children’s lives so that they can
help these kids develop more of a growth mindset while growing up. If we can make this switch we can help set
these kids up for a brighter future. If
they acquire the love for learning, and challenges and develop the mindset that
if they put the work in, they can get there, it will help them be far more
successful in life down the road, be that in sport or life.
I would like you to take a step back and
determine what type of mindset you might have:
Fixed:
- - Believe capabilities are inborn talents
- - Avoid challenges
- - Believe that if you need to put in effort then you must lack the skill needed.
- - If you fail at something, believe that you have the lack of talent and give up early.
- - Success of others is a threat to you because maybe they are better than you are.
Growth:
- - Believe capabilities are developable through effort and learning.
- - Try to learn and improve any chance you get.
- - Challenges are embraced because they allow you to grow as an individual.
- - Effort is a normal and needed to grow as an individual.
- - Failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and grow, and try again with a better strategy.
Now that you have read through, what did
you come up with?
Maybe try and take this as an eye opener,
and if you see yourself leaning more towards the fixed mindset, try and start
to be aware of how you are thinking and respond to situations. You can develop a growth mindset, it takes
time and effort, and won’t be easy but if you put in the effort you can rewire
the way you think. And this will help
you live more productive life, and allow you to take on challenges, as well as,
do things you never imagined you could do yourself.
And the great thing is mindset applies to
all areas in life. Not just sport or
health but in your study, or work situation.
Everyone has potential, they just need to see it and be willing to put
the work in to get where they want in life.
And maybe you developed a fixed mindset because of who you grew up
around and people telling you, you weren’t talented enough. But this isn’t true, if you are willing to
put in the effort and develop and grow as an individual, it will make a world
of difference for you.
I myself used to have a partially fixed
mindset, and it was hurting my professional soccer career. I was frustrated, in a foreign country,
lonely at times, thought along the lines of a fixed mindset individual. It’s a lot to take in, and sometimes you
believe what people say. Then, I started
working with a mentor of mine on developing a new outlook on life and mindset,
and my world turned upside down. I was
playing some of the best soccer of my life, as well as, starting my Master’s
degree which was going to be a challenge in itself. But the simple switch in thinking and
developing the growth mindset allowed me to thrive on the field and in the
classroom. Yes, I had to deal with a lot
of new things moving to a foreign country and playing soccer but I started to
see it as a challenge and started focusing on the process of getting better and
learning. Yes, I had plenty of
challenges with my school work, trying to manage my time, as well as, learn
some challenging material but again I saw it as a challenge and put the effort
in to get the job done.
What I am getting at, is you can make the
change too. You can free yourself from
the judgment of yourself and others, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Go out and fail a few times. Failure and mistakes are just there to help
you learn and grow as an individual so that you can do it better next time or
maybe even a completely different way.
Yes you want to do well, we all do!
However, at the same time every experience you encounter makes you a better
individual regardless of what happens you can take that experience and learn
from it. With the growth mindset it
allows you to be the best you can be and improve every single day.
So my advice to you, is try and become more
aware of how you are thinking and the type of mindset you have, and try and
implement different thoughts along the lines of the growth mindset. You will not regret it, I promise!
This article was expertly written by Professional Women's Footballer, Brittany Persaud.
