Most of us realize the impact of our mindset on our success. If we are feeling negative, often the result of our efforts does not meet our expectations. If we are positive and optimistic, our chances of reaching our goals improve. With the start of a new year, everyone is making resolutions and creating new goals. With that in mind, I thought it would be valuable to explain how your mindset can help you better position yourself for ongoing success.
Published research by Stanford University psychologist, Carol Dweck, offers great insight in to just how powerful mindset can be. Her book, Mindset, outlines the key differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, and how these differences can determine just how successful we are in life.
According to Dweck, with a fixed mindset you consider your intelligence static. Therefore, you try to look smart and avoid challenges. You often give up easily as you see your effort as fruitless. You have a tendency to ignore any negative feedback and feel threatened by the success of others. The result is that you may, in fact, plateau early and never reach your full potential.
With a growth mindset, you believe intelligence can be developed. This belief leads to a desire to learn and a tendency to embrace challenges. You persist despite setbacks and see effort as the path to mastery. You learn from the criticism you receive and find lessons and inspiration from the success of others. As a result, you reach higher levels of achievement.
Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Perhaps you have a combination of the two but see that your default may be “fixed” and this may be holding you back from reaching your potential.
I believe we all make resolutions and intentions and those of us who are successful thrive because their mindset supports their success.
Make it your intention this year to determine how your mindset supports or sabotages your success and work to make whatever changes are necessary to move forward in a positive way.
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