Do you know what we're talking about today? Growth mindset. What an amazing topic. It's literally what I am so passionate about. So, let's define first. What is a growth mindset? We need to define it so that we can understand if you have it or if you don't, or maybe we can talk about ways, you can improve it, right?
So, a growth mindset is a mindset where you believe you can learn everything, your emotional intelligence, your social intelligence, your professional intelligence, multiple intelligences, they can all be improved. That's what growth mindset is, what are we comparing it to? We're comparing it to a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset would be a place where you think, you know, this is who I am, these are my capacities, my skills. That's it, right? Everything has a limit. Everything is certain and you cannot grow. So, obviously, that is not growth mindset. That is fixed mindset. When you have a growth mindset, your brain is elastic. Okay. Picture with me. I am sure you have heard about neuroplasticity, it refers to, that elastic structure of your brain. The organ brain. Picture it, you are able to take it sideways and up and down and make it expand. So that is exactly how you can picture growth mindset, visually. That's flexible. Its agile. It's open and it is easy to shape, right? And when you have growth mindset, there are some signs that you can tell you have it
Ready? Let's talk about them.
Number one, you don't believe in failing because a growth mindset believes that there is no failure, there is only learning and growing. When you have a growth mindset, everything that happens to you, for you, everything that happens around you, they happen because they teach you something, they show you ways that you can improve things. Think about Thomas Edison, for example, before he invented the light bulb, did you know? That he failed thousands of times. But if you ask him. Do you know what he says? He says, I never fail. I just discovered thousands of ways that don't work. So that's a great example of thinking that a growth mindset. Whenever you try something maybe it doesn't work, but it doesn't have to be labeled as a failure. You can label it as a lesson to learn from, and to improve it, right? That is number one.
Number two, you don't take things personally. What do I mean by that? When you have a fixed mindset, you know, you believe that you have a limited capacity and you cannot grow, right? So, in that kind of a mindset when somebody tells you, hey you know what, you could have done that better, what are you going to do? You're going to be like, but I don't believe I can do it better. So, you're going to take it personally and you're going to feel sorry about it. You're going to have self-pity, hopelessness, helplessness. Oh, my goodness, right? That is totally a behavior of a fixed mindset. Whereas, if you have a growth mindset, you'll be like, oh, can I do this better? How? tell me, teach me, right? That should be your approach and that is your approach. If that is your approach, that's a sign. You have a growth mindset.
Number three, you focus on solutions. Not the problems. When you have a fixed mindset, you are a part of the problem, you complain, you blame and you cannot think of any solutions because you're stuck in the problem. When you have a growth mindset, you are creative. You are open flexible. So, you can find different ways to solve a problem. And that's why
the you are solution oriented.
Number four, you empower others to grow with you. Because, you know, that, if you are the only one growing, Uh, that might be a problem, right? So, you don't want to be the smartest person in the room. You want to be among other smart brains. Brilliant, Shiny Minds, right? In my language. And so that is your attitude. If you have a growth mindset, you're going to want your friends and your network to grow with you. You are not going to get jealous. You're not going to compare yourself with them and feel sorry for yourself that they are better, and you are not. That is so not a growth mindset attitude. And if you can feel that you want to empower others to grow, that is also a sign. You have a growth mindset.
Last but not least, this is my favorite. Number five. You look at life as a school as school to learn and grow. Why? Because, you know, and believe that you can become more and achieve more, right? That is totally a sign that you do have a growth mindset.
