In the article Mindset Matters: Our Attitude Can Make or Break America by Jeff Minick, the author shares about Carol Dweck’s bookMindset: The New Psychology of Success and how Dweck contended that we all exercise one of two fundamental mindsets in our approach to success and to life.
The first mindset, which he terms the Fixed Mindset, or what we might call the closed minded, believe that our gifts and talents are deep-seated, that we are either smart or we aren’t, that success and failure depend more on our innate abilities and less on effort and self-improvement. According to Dweck, this mindset breeds stagnation and failure.
The child who is repeatedly told by her parents and coaches that she has a gift for gymnastics may indeed possess talent, but without practice and constant work, her talent will likely wilt in the face of stiff competition. The husband and wife who believe that a happy marriage can be achieved without effort will probably end up unhappy. This results in the proverbial “rose colored glasses” scenario, often one out of touch with reality.
Those with a Growth Mindset, or what we might call an opened mind, however, see difficulties as springboards for improvement, obstacles to be overcome by work, grit, and creative thinking. If they possess a certain talent, they understand that developing it to its fullest potential requires constantly honing one’s skills.
Dweck’s proposition of a fixed versus growth mindset might also apply to our political beliefs, hopes, and loyalties. The fixed mindset folks are those who equate the failure of their candidate to the death of hope and view it as a threat to their particular reality. They see a single defeat in a battle as the conclusion of a war.
On the other hand, the growth mindset crew will ask questions following such a loss basically centering on “how can I improve our position for the next battle.” The growth-minded students, athletes, entrepreneurs, and couples in Mindset are all seeking to better themselves and their performance. Growth-minded citizens focus on a much larger project, seeking to bring ideals such as “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” to the forefront.
Win or lose, growth-minded citizens are committed to the health and prosperity of all. The fixed-minded give in to defeat and despair.
Open minds keep growing. Closed minds struggle with fear.