EP52 Looking Back and Moving Forward – Reflecting & Setting Intentions
2024 was a year of unexpected challenges, loss, and growth. Join me as I reflect on lessons learned, the power of acceptance, and intentions for 2025.
How A Growth Mindset Can Change Your Life
Embracing a growth mindset has been one of the most beneficial transformations in my life. Transitioning from a fixed mindset, especially in a demanding corporate environment, was not easy, but it has allowed me to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. Now, as a mom, applying this mindset helps me support my children's development, encouraging them to love learning and persist through setbacks. Discover how a growth mindset can transform your life and open up endless possibilities for personal and professional growth.
This has to be one of my most favourite topics to talk about. However, I will say that it has NOT been an easy journey for me to transition from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, and all the inbetweens like scarcity, but it has been one of my most beneficial transformations. In my motherhood role, using my growth mindset learnings to help my children grow up with this mindset is priceless.
What is A Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and continuous learning. It’s the understanding that challenges and failures are opportunities for growth rather than life-stopping dramas.
My pre-mom life was in corporate and while I have always loved learning, as a young female in that environment you’re under pressure to just know everything, do everything and be perfect.
No mistakes.
So inevitably you will build up a resistance to anything “new” or out of your comfort zone as you know that you will never come first right out of the gate. It takes time, with learning and pivoting.
In hind sight, sure, I get it. But when I was in my 20s and in a global corporate → I can assure you, this is not the mindset I was applying.
Today I see myself as a walking example of a growth mindset. I was never top of my class academically yet every course, class or workshop I attend now, I nail. Why? Because not only do I love learning, I also know that dedication is far more valuable than talent alone. And for me, what a beautiful life we live if we CAN do ANYTHING we put our minds to? Rather than being limited to what gifts, talents or skills we were born with.
Where Does The Term Growth Mindset Come From?
The term “growth mindset” was coined by psychologist Carol Dweck in her groundbreaking research on achievement and success. Dweck’s studies revealed that individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset.
This contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their basic abilities, intelligence, and talents are fixed traits.
Why is A Growth Mindset so Important?
In one short sentence → a growth mindset is the key to success. Why? For a few reasons:
- Resilience: It helps you bounce back from setbacks and view failures as learning opportunities.
- Adaptability: In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to adapt and learn new skills is invaluable.
- Self-Improvement: It encourages continuous personal and professional development.
- Positive Outlook: Promotes a positive and proactive approach to life’s challenges. (not to be confused with false positivity)
What are the Differences Between a Growth Mindset and a Fixed Mindset?
Understanding the differences between these two mindsets can help you recognize where you stand and how to shift your thinking →
Fixed Mindset
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Believes abilities are static
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Avoids challenges
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Gives up easily
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Views effort as fruitless
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Ignores useful feedback
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Feels threatened by others' success
Growth Mindset
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Believes abilities can be developed
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Embraces challenges
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Persists through obstacles
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Sees effort as the path to mastery
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Learns from criticism
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Finds inspiration in others' success
How Do You Move From a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset?
Depending on how attached you are to your fixed mindset, this can be a challenging journey.
It all starts with self-awareness.
- What are the fixed beliefs that you currently hold?
- Do you believe that people can get what they truly desire, if they put the work in?
- If you receive constructive feedback, take it from where it is coming from → a caring place who wants to help. (If it’s not, then again, take it from where it’s coming from).
Then you need to reframe the way you see certain things, like challenges.
- Do you believe that the challenge (what ever challenge you’re facing currently or have recently) is a show stopper for you? If yes, why?
- If you take a step back and look at the situation, could you find a lesson in it?
The biggest one for me → embracing failure.
- What does failure mean to you?
- If you don’t meet expectations (yours or external), what will actually happen? (you won’t die, is what I’m getting at 😁)
- If you were to ‘fail’ now, would you ‘fail’ if it you did it again?
The important one → value the process more than the destination.
- Goals are moving targets, so you need to enjoy the journey.
- Successful people always talk about their journey and or process, what is yours?
Then the main part of a growth mindset → love learning!
How Can You Cultivate Your Growth Mindset?
Here are a few of my personal strategies I have used to adopt and cultivate my growth mindset:
I set learning goals.
I watched the people I follow and who inspire me and wrote down what I admired about them.
What I wanted to replicate in my own life.
Then I researched how to close the gaps or learn new skills which would get me to the desired outcome.
I celebrate small wins, big wins and effort.
I make sure that every single bump or smooth riding on the road of progress is celebrated. It not only makes you present during the journey, it also sends yourself a message that you’ve got this and you’re worth it!
I visualise success.
At least once a week, I use my visualisation meditation where I visualise where I want to be and how it feels to be there. It’s so incredibly powerful! It gives your mind a glimpse into where you are going and that’s all you need.
I read and learn DAILY.
The most important time for your brain is in the morning, early morning. So every single morning I make sure that the first thing I consume is educational and benefits me in some way. (If you’re on social media or dooms-day news media first thing in the morning → stop doing it immediately. It will set your day up to be a ball of sh*t!)
I practice self-compassion.
Granted this one took a lot longer than the rest, but when I got the hang of it → I can absolutely see the benefits of it!! Treat yourself with the same compassion you would a friend. You deserve it!
Surround yourself with growth-minded people.
Side note here → I do not practice this as much as I should!!! But, I am working on it! 😉
Having a growth mindset can literally be the difference between having a successful life & business and not.
Having a growth mindset can literally help you enjoy your life and journey rather than surviving through it.
Knowing this now, I wish I could go back and talk to my 20year old self and show her the way! Instead, I will make sure my kids grow up with a growth mindset parent role modelling it so that they love their journeys, flaws and all!
You’ve Got This!
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