A fixed mindset is the idea that you are predetermined to fail if you think you aren’t good at something and refuse to try to learn. A growth mindset believes that options are endless and you can learn whatever you want.
A growth mindset can empower you to strive to improve all aspects of your life and nurture your self-growth. Here are some ways to avoid a fixed mindset and shift your thinking to enhance your life.
Table of Contents
1. Identify Your Triggers
Triggers are anything that shifts your frame of mind to make you doubt yourself or your abilities. Become aware of these triggers and how they make you feel. Small changes can make a significant difference in your mindset. With a fixed mindset, you limit yourself to what you think you can’t achieve or improve.
Become self-aware and recognize when things come up that make you doubt yourself. Maybe you’re in denial about how things make you feel, like when your significant other says you aren’t good at cooking. Do you accept that you aren’t a good cook and brush it off or do you study recipes and practice until you become better at it? This is the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset.
To avoid feeling like you cannot do something you believe you can–the sky is the limit. Recognize whatever it is in your life that makes you feel like you’re not enough or incapable of achieving what you want and eliminate it or change the way you react to it.
You hold the power to your thoughts–no one else. If you can’t change how someone treats you or what they say, you can change how they make you feel. Believe in yourself, identify your triggers and conquer them–you’ve got this.
2. Take a Different Approach
Realize that you have a choice regarding handling challenges and setbacks. You can choose to allow them to drag you down and diminish your self-worth or you can choose to recognize your assets and use them to your advantage. Celebrate little moments and take the time to bask in your accomplishments
Consider changing your routine and taking a different approach to your daily schedule. Make task lists and check them off one item at a time to feel instant gratification. Manifest what you want and watch it come to fruition. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to, but no one will make it happen for you. You have to put in the work to see results. Keep trying different approaches until one of them works for you.
Consider starting an exercise program to put you in a different headspace. Help others and show gratitude to promote positive thinking. Have debates and discussions with others to hear different points of view that can generate new ideas and thoughts for you. Step back and see the bigger picture to think more critically and allow a different approach to your actions.
To build a healthy routine, decide what you want and set small goals to achieve them. Prioritize your goals and try to change one thing daily, so you don’t get overwhelmed and trigger a fixed mindset. Have patience with yourself and be consistent. If you slip–that’s OK. Get back on track and keep pushing forward, striving to be 1% better every single day.
3. Shift Your Perspective
Realizing your mindset and deciding to change it is the first step to making big changes–the rest flows. When you think you aren’t good at something or weren’t born to do it, shift your mindset to how you can strategize and improve. Changing your thinking can be challenging, but you must keep reminding yourself of your goals and creating positivity to help you thrive.
Change the way you think and talk to yourself. Use mindfulness or meditation exercises to find your center and build your confidence and find joy. These deep breathing techniques have myriad benefits that can help shift your perspective and make you think clearer and more rationally to nourish your self-growth.
Keep failure in perspective and use it as a learning tool to fuel your growth. Work toward learning and developing goals and remember that everyone starts somewhere. The natural process of nurturing your abilities can spur growth and ignite change. Use your challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Focus on your growth and look for opportunities to celebrate your wins. Surround yourself with people who also foster growth mindsets and don’t have limited views of themselves. Be grateful for what you learn even when you fail and apply it to your next attempt instead of believing you aren’t right for the job or task.
Nurturing a Growth Mindset
Avoiding a fixed mindset can be challenging, especially when you are accustomed to this thinking. However, you can train your brain to see the positive side of things. It isn’t just the way you are–you can change it. You can change anything you want. Develop a growth mindset to nurture your self-growth and improve your skills and abilities.
