I think we have all been there: After creating something, you are not happy with the end result. And it can give you a feeling that you are not good enough, that you should quit. You see other people’s creations and think that yours is not nearly as good as their ones. That you will never be that good. I’ve been there too, and I am still struggling with this. In order to tackle this, you need to develop a growth mindset. Because it is the most crucial characteristic for lifelong learning and improvement. If you embrace a growth mindset, you will gain personal freedom and life-changing potential. For example, you will not quit after writing one article because you think it is bad. When you have a growth mindset, you will know by staying consitent and not giving up, you will create better articles in the future.
What is a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset can be defined as: ‘the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.’ It is a lifelong process of continuous improvement. It is in high contrast with a fixed mindset, because that means that you believe that abilities are unchangeable. Everyone has to start somewhere, and in the beginning you will be inexperienced. But when you have a growth mindset, you know that you will create better products over time. Having this belief is really gives you unlimited possibilities. It is fundamental to progress in any area of life. It means that you see everything as a process, rather than an end result.
The Growth Mindset in Action: Fueling Continuous Improvement
The real progress begins when you connect the growth mindset to continuous improvement. Believing in your ability to get better motivates you to keep learning and practicing. For my own creative journey, a growth mindset really made me overcome obstacles for my writing, Youtube channel, art, and music. It makes sure that I don’t quit. I keep creating better articles, better videos, greater art pieces and music. Whenever I create something and post it, I will not be influenced too much by the statistics and analytics. I learned that the process is way more important than the initial outcome. Of course it is great to sometimes reflect on your work and be proud of it. But it becomes a problem when you feel like your work is lacking something.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” James Clear – Atomic Habits
Overcoming the Obstacles: Taming the Fixed Mindset
Common manifestations of a fixed mindset are fear of failure, avoiding challenges or focusing solely on outcomes. Many people have a fixed mindset, and it is often created by our school system. We attach our work to a grade in school, and therefore we put a high price on results. By cultivating mindfulness, you can become aware of fixed mindset thoughts. You discover things that have held you back, and how you can overcome those obstacles. You can create a strategy to develop a growth mindset and change your belief system. There are multiple ways for challenging a fixed mindset:
- Read books and stay open minded to other people and ideas
- Use productivity tools that prioritize the process
- Have an accountability partner that reminds you to not give up
- Start creating and share your work online
There are many ways to make the change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Knowing this is the first step towards improvement.
Practical Steps to Cultivate a Growth Mindset
In order to develop a growth mindset, you need actionable steps. Here are a few:
- Embrace challenges and view them as opportunities for growth
- Persist in the face of setbacks
- Learn from criticism and use it to improve
- Find inspiration in the success of others
- Focus on the process over just the outcome
If you keep these steps in mind, you will eventually create a strong growth mindset. It is also a good idea to share your creations online, because then you will see the evolution of your work.
The Freedom and Fulfillment of a Growth Mindset
Having a growth mindset really has a positive impact on your personal freedom. I means that you can stay consistent and not give up. It increases resilience and the willingness to explore new possibilities. It means that you narrow your focus and incorporate more deep-work into your life. Connecting this to reducing digital distractions will free up time and mental energy for learning and growth. The best way to develop a growth mindset is by creating work and sharing it online. This way you can always look back on your previous creations and analyze where you can improve with the next challenge. I use the same strategy. I create blog posts and youtube videos, and often review them later. Then I will know which videos and articles work and which ones do not work.
Conclusion
The benefits of having a growth mindset are that you develop a belief system that motivates you to keep learning. Therefore, you will be better able to overcome obstacles and challenges and have more resilience. Keep in mind that it is a continuous journey without an end station. Many people believe that after school, learning stops. But in reality, you will keep learning new things your whole life. To practice this, choose one area of your life where you can apply a growth mindset this week. This could be making music, art, or writing online. Let go of judgements and look at the progress that you have already made. Small and consistent efforts driven by a growth mindset will lead to significant long-term progress.
“The most effective way to build a lasting habit is to focus on identity, not outcomes.” James Clear – Atomic Habits
Let me know your thoughts or experiences with a growth mindset in the comments.
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Have an amazing day,
Mart Bergsma
