Developing a Growth Mindset

It is incredibly common for youth especially to feel like they’re stuck with what we call a fixed mindset. If you have a fixed mindset, you may believe that your personal qualities, skills, and intelligence cannot be changed or improved upon, and as a result, you lack the motivation to try to improve. Often, these terms of fixed and growth mindsets are associated with entrepreneurship, or more generally productivity in the workplace. However, the mindset you equip yourself with affects more than just your work ethic—it also has a tremendous impact on your mental wellbeing.

So, if a fixed mindset is not the way to go, what is? In this case, a growth mindset is what you want. Essentially, a growth mindset is the exact opposite of a fixed mindset. Those with growth mindsets believe that they can always improve and become better people through hard work, patience, and perseverance. To have a growth mindset, remember to always keep an open mind, be willing to accept failure (and grow from it), and be unafraid of the risks and uncertainty involved with developing your skills while improving upon personal weaknesses.

Numerous past studies have shown that a more deeply fixed mindset is associated with increased mental health issues, while those with a growth mindset were less likely to experience common mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. It’s not easy making that switch between a fixed and growth mindset, but taking the first step to recognize the need to make this change can persuade you to keep moving forward.