A Growth Mindset Feels Better

I've been listening to the book Mindset by Carol Dweck, which I highly recommend. 

In it, Dweck shares many examples in business, sport, education and parenting that highlight the benefits of having a growth rather than a fixed mindset. 

It has given me a lot of ideas to think about for my business and for supporting my children in particular. 

I have been a big fixed mindset operator in a lot of ways. 

By building my awareness of this, I can focus more on learning and growth rather than being so outcome-focused. 

I can also take more risks, which I often avoid, thus staying safe and in my comfort zone. 

There is also a lot to be learnt from setbacks, and I can embrace them more as an essential part of my journey rather than not taking on challenges in the first place or letting failures derail me when they occur. 

Dweck also shares some important messages about praising productive effort, especially with children. 

These messages include offering praise where obstacles have been overcome, help has been sought, and new strategies have been tried.  

She doesn't encourage offering praise for any effort, but instead, an effort that is productive and impacts the goal set through hard work, input from others and good strategies.