Before the journey to wellness can begin, one should believe that they can fundamentally change their actions, abilities, and perceptions. If you believe you are not happy, healthy, or successful because you are just not capable, then you should stop and read the book Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. For those that feel that they do not have the time or patience for the full book, you can start with her TED Talk, embedded below.

What it means to have a growth mindset

To expand on the TED Talk and summarize some of the findings from Carol’s research, having a growth mindset means that you fundamentally believe that people have the ability to grow and change their basic competencies. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset, which is the belief that people are fundamentally born with their abilities and they are either good at something, or not. The research shows that people can have a growth mindset about most topics, but still have a fixed mindset about something else. For example, you may generally have a growth mindset, but you think “I am just bad at math.” That one core belief that you are “just bad at math” will keep you bad at math because you do not believe you can get better. Not believing that others got better at math through practice and hard work, holds back your own development, or maybe the development of your child, friend, or coworker.

Being stuck with a fixed mindset

Before beginning a new journey of education, growth, and development consider; “have I tried to change my ways in the past and failed”? “Have I decided to give up on my efforts because I ‘just can’t do it’”? If you feel stuck in a rut and unable to change and adapt to better suit yourself, your family, or those around you, it is likely because you are stuck in a fixed mindset. If you approached these same issues or concerns with your own growth mindset then you would analyze the roadblocks, understand the weaknesses, and develop a plan to overcome the challenges.

How to make intentional change in your life

From Carol’s research, it could be concluded that true, intentional, and significant change requires a growth mindset. For these reasons it is highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their life, happiness, and overall wellness to research the growth mindset. It is further recommended to look inward and truly challenge yourself. “Do I have a growth mindset”? “Am I holding myself back by not believing I can accomplish my goals”? “Do I think less of others because of what I believe they are capable of”?

Natural talent versus hard work and dedication

The more questions you ask yourself about your true thoughts and ideas around yourself and others, you may find that you are more close minded than you thought. You may find yourself putting certain skills or traits in categories that are inherited, rather than learned. You may find that you have a belief that you can only become a singer if you were born with natural talent. This could also be true for athletics, leadership, or art, where many consider natural talent a requirement.

Some argue that natural, or innate, talent is a fixed, unchanging, and powerful quality. Others, like Carol, argue that talent can be developed and skills can change over time. Carol has shown through her scientific research that not only can these talents and skills be developed, but an individual will be more positive and effective during skills development when they have the growth mindset.

How the growth mindset applies to me

Here at onegetwell.com, we plan to embark on a journey of healing and growth together. We plan to fundamentally change our circumstances though first fundamentally changing ourselves and our core beliefs.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

A growth mindset gives us the foundation of learning and development. Provides us with the correct mindset to accept change in ourselves to change our circumstances. True, intentional, change of our health, happiness, and success begins with the recognition that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect improvement. We must look inwardly at ourselves and first change our mindset to begin our growth. A growth mindset frees us from the burdens of “I can’t” or “I am not good enough.” There is no time like the present to take back control of your own life.

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