The attitude we adopt can determine what we will accomplish in the new year. As you kick off the new year and reflect on the previous one, consider setting goals for you with the right mindset – that of growth despite what life throws at you.
There are two mindsets that govern our behavior – growth and fixed mindsets which originated from Carol Dweck in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Fixed Mindset
Click the link below to find out more about this mindset and its effects.
A fixed mindset is when your character, intelligence and abilities are static and if we avoid striving for success or avoid failure we can stay in a ‘safe zone’. On the other hand, a growth mindset thrives on challenge and embraces failure as feedback and an opportunity for growth and stretching our abilities.
Believing In Improvement
The power of believing you can improve – really does make the world of difference to your outlook on life and to yourself. The TED Talk by Carol Dweck highlights the key to moving into a growth mindset is when things seem to be falling short, frame your situation as “not yet”. For instance, “l have not learned that yet” or “we have not figured out the best solution yet”. In changing this phrasing ever so slightly you leave the doors open for opportunity and allow yourself the experience of growth without using restrictive language that shuts these doors for opportunities to enter into your life.
8 Ways to embrace the growth mindset
The great news is that you can choose to shift your mindset once you are more self-aware and make the decision to change.
Here are 8 ways to embrace a growth mindset in 2020:-
1. Live your life the way you want to be remembered. By establishing your purpose, you will find it easier to connect what inspires you and your ability to stick with your goals;
2. Invest in learning. Rather than worrying about what you don’t know, see yourself as a blank canvas. Recognize that you are taking steps to move you forward and celebrate the masterpiece you are creating;
3. Turn rejection into fuel. You are the only person who knows how strong you are. Don’t let rejection stop you from achieving what you want. Use it to propel you forward to create what you want;
4. Every new year is full of hope and magic. Invest your energy into what really matters to place you in the position of success;
5. Identify your one hairy scary audacious goal for 2020 and then break it down into smaller ones. Explore what one thing you can do every week to bring you closer to that goal;
6. Be compassionate with yourself. If you fall behind or make a mistake, pick yourself up and start again. Always remember to be flexible and o simply readjust and start again;
7. Every day is the perfect day to start something. The sooner you begin, the bigger your chances to succeed; and
8. There is no destination; self-improvement is a lifetime journey.
