ever since Carol Dweck book, Thinking: The New Psychology of Success, was published in 2007, "growth mindset" is a household name. I have already spoken about my power in the past. How it can be the key to deeper learning and growth in many areas of your life. And there is a lot of research that continues to explore the growth mindset. ((Education Week: Carol Dweck Revisits Growth Mindset)) but one thing I haven't touched yet is that while we may be stimulating a growth mindset, Dweck makes an important point:
"The path to a growth mindset is a journey, not a proclamation."
What this means is not only we must create the conditions, but indulge in a growth activity mindset. Activities that can help us further develop ourselves and enjoy the process.
What is a growth mindset?
For the uninitiated, growth mindset is a mindset coined by Carol Dweck, Dweck talks about two mindsets: fixed mindset and growth mindset. Based on her research, Dweck came to realize that whether a child would succeed or fail came down to their mentality. She realized that those who were called to learn more had a different attitude and behavior in life compared to others. For example, one student would see challenges as opportunities for growth, while others would give up after they fail the first time. She attributed this behavior to the two mentalities I mentioned above. But while Dweck's research covers children, adults are no different. We are more mature versions of our habits, like children in some cases. For example, look at our own goals in life. Are you the one who didn't put them in, either after you succeeded? Chances are you have a fixed mindset, which assumes that everything you do is based on your current skills. You - in all likelihood - have stopped learning about your industry or growing your skills. If you have a growth mindset.
7 Growth In Activity Thinking To Try
So if you're looking to grow on your own, it's important to develop your mindset. One such way is growth activity thinking. While it's best to learn and use them at a younger age, we can still change our ways as we get older. As they say,
“The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago. The second best time to grow one is right now."
With that in mind, here are some growth mindsets you can try.
1. Exploration by yourself
If it's not clear, our current mentality affects how we shape our future as we move forward. If we have a fixed mindset, the chances are likely that we will remain in the same position we are in right now. Therefore, the only thing we can do is to change what some growth of thinking, activities, which encourage us to change, does. One such activity is self-study. This means diving into your thinking and starting to make changes in that direction. To help with this, I suggest watching the Lost Generation video. This is a two minute video but the idea is to get others to watch the video and for you and others to discuss what they found in this video. The idea of the discussion is to touch on how the future changes depending on the position we take today. You want to end this experiment with the questions: What happens when we change our thinking? If you can't do this in a group or with someone else, you can still get some benefit from asking how you felt about the video. Here's a video:
2. Identify Every Day Thought Patterns
Fixed mindset and growth mindset not just show up in overly educational environments, but also in everyday life. Of the several mindset growth activities out there, this one brings our relationships to the fore. How is it that we look at the behavior and presentation of examples. To do this exercise, grab some sheets of paper and a set of colored pens. If you do it yourself, then you can enter them. After that, write down examples of how each type of thinking can be applied in everyday life. These can be phrases that everyone uses thinking, their opinions on topics like problems, setbacks and obstacles, how they deal with troubles, and so on. To do this exercise correctly, you must have a general description of both of these views. It also pays to do it in a group, and the idea is to write them down and then discuss why you feel this way.
3. Take Action
One of the easiest growth mindsets, activities out there to to do this. Starting something new, whether it's learning or building a habit, is the hardest part. If you have a fixed mindset, chances are good that you are not looking to get out of your comfort zone. If you want to develop a growth mindset, you need to change your attitude and start doing more. It's not just focusing on things you're passionate about. It is also the study of new passions. It means things that you didn't think.
4. Self-reflection
Similarly to self-knowledge, self-reflection is also important. Self-reflection is one of the growth thinking activities that looks at your outside and not your inside. This will focus on your skills that you have built and how you have managed to develop them. Regardless of the frame of mind you have right now, reflecting in this way can bring together many things. For example, it helps us realize that when we started, we weren't good at it. And over time we got used to it. A great example is the work you are doing today. Think back to your first day at work. How it was? Can you move through your routine and have a solid workflow for the whole day? Or do you have to experiment and find out what you are good at and what you need guidance? When you pick up a new skill, make sure to think about your progress too. Record your changes.
5. Neuroplasticity Research
Neuroplasticity is the study of our brain and how it adapts to the environments, actions and experiences we go through life.((NCBI website: adult neuroplasticity: over 40 years of research)) what this study found was that the way we thought brains used to be was all wrong. For a long time, we though our brain is a "non-renewable" organ. We never thought that our brain could form other neurons on its own, let alone be able to grow and be fit, but we love it. What decades of research have found is that, no matter our age, we can grow and learn new things. After all, our brain contains many circuits and mechanisms. What this means in simple terms is that these pathways allow our brains to push us through a sequence of steps. The more we go through these steps, the more our brain builds this path. This eventually forms a chain, allowing this task to be completed with greater skill and speed than before. Being aware of neuroplasticity and how it can affect our lives is the key to our growth.
6. Actively Seek Opportunities to Learn
Better yet, look for learning opportunities that you think are not suitable for. This may be within your industry or outside of it. Either way, taking something you hesitate in the way can build you. The biggest reason is because it teaches you to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. It also teaches you about how your attitude to matters. Again, someone with a fixed mindset hesitates and gives up when the going gets tough. Someone with a growth mindset will push forward on their own path. Not going to teach a little about a subject or practicing a skill will make you a pro in that area. But it will bring you one step closer to being knowledgeable and good in this area. What can be confidence, you have to make it even more and apply it to your life.
7. Develop Greets
Grit, which determines your perseverance in achieving the goals you have set. It is the effort you put into your work and your willingness to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward. Grit development comes down to finding something that interests you or has a passion for it and keep improving it. Another way to see this is through hard and necessary work, you can develop, improve and excel in this area over time. Developing a grit is to surround yourself with those who are grit as well. Find people who stick to their goals and work closely with them. Being with those who show up every day will allow you to become like them in time. Dr. Angela Duckworth book grit good read to help you develop grit.
Final Thoughts
List mindset growth activities galore. Of all of them, no, a great way to develop a growth mindset. The key is to find the methods that work best for you. So take a stand for experimentation and see what you like. After all, attempting these mindset activities will develop your thinking from the very beginning.
Train your brain more
- 9 Mindset Changes That Will Help You Live Your Dream Life
- 17 Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset
- 7 simple brain workouts to increase your brain power