Psychologist Carol Dweck has found that there are two main mindsets that people navigate life with1:
- The fixed mindset, where you believe that intelligence is static.
- The growth mindset, where you believe that intelligence is developed.
And these have huge implications for your life.
If you have a fixed mindset, you’ll avoid challenges, give up quickly, and plateau early.
Conversely, if you have a growth mindset, you’ll embrace challenges, fight through setbacks, and continually improve.
So, pay attention to your inner dialogue, catch your limiting beliefs, and replace them with more empowering ones.
For instance, instead of telling yourself, “I can’t do this,” you can tell yourself, “I can’t do this yet.”
It might seem trivial, but it makes all the difference.
Because the moment you start believing in your capabilities is the moment you can begin to realize them.
Footnote
- Mindset by Carol Dweck