How To Develop A Growth Mindset
In a competitive society like ours, frustration is the order of the day. Giving up early or thinking that we will never be able to achieve success are the attitudes that the “growth mindset” intends to avoid.
The growth mindset is a recent concept that supports the importance of trusting in one’s abilities and being able to develop and improve our qualities through effort. Let’s see together how to develop a growth mindset .
“Growth mentality can change a child’s life.”
-Carol Dweck-
What is the growth mindset?
If we believe that our qualities and abilities have a static character and that talent is something innate, we would have a “fixed” mentality. Conversely, if we believe that our personality traits can be developed, just like talent, we would have what is called a “growth mindset”.
Growth minded people are those who believe their core skills can be developed through dedication and hard work. For Dweck, our brains and talent are just the starting point. In this way we will develop the desire to learn to learn, which is essential for continuing to improve.
What are its effects?
Teaching a growth mindset means encouraging motivation and productivity in all areas of our life: education, work, sport, etc.
Children who develop a growth mindset will learn to accept criticism. Thanks to this attitude, they will learn from their experiences and will work to adopt strategies that help them improve at what they are failing. Because, even if they make mistakes, they know that, through effort, they can find a way to improve.
Ideas for developing a growth mindset in your children
- Teach your children that the strength lies in knowing how to face challenges, not avoiding them. Help them understand that it doesn’t matter if they fail, since just trying is a step forward.
- If he is having trouble with a classmate, encourage your child to start a conversation with him instead of letting it go.
- Encourage them to be persistent. One of the key characteristics of a person with a growth mindset is that they don’t give up easily. For example, if your child is having difficulty with math, tell them that this is a subject that requires a lot of effort and that it is not their fault.
- Show them that criticism can be useful. A fixed-minded person tends to ignore the negative opinions of others, even if they are helpful and constructive. Help him try to learn from criticism, as long as it is constructive.
- Encourage children to use the success of others as inspiration. Instead of feeling threatened by the success of others, the good thing is trying to find lessons and inspiration.
“Failure does not define people.”
-Carol Dweck-
Carol Dweck points out that we all have both mindsets and that we can change from each other based on the moment. Although we feel very confident in our qualities, in certain situations we may feel disheartened and unable.
For this reason, it is essential to foster a growth mindset from childhood. In this way, they will gradually assimilate that challenges and obstacles are part of their learning and that, after all, they need defeats to improve.
