What is a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset?
The concepts of growth mindset and fixed mindset, popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, shape the way we approach challenges and view our potential.
A growth mindset values effort, embracing the process of learning and improvement. Mistakes aren't seen as failures but as opportunities to grow, motivating individuals to try new strategies and persist through difficulties (Dweck, 2008). This mindset fosters grit, resilience, and a belief in one’s ability to develop over time.
On the other hand, a fixed mindset assumes that abilities are static and unchangeable. In this view, mistakes signal a lack of talent or intelligence, leading to avoidance of challenges for fear of exposing personal inadequacies. This mentality limits growth and discourages effort, as hard work is seen as evidence of a lack of natural ability.
Understanding the difference between these two mindsets can help shift our approach to challenges and encourage continuous self-improvement.
Willingness to learn
People with a growth mindset tend to perform better academically and in other areas because they view mistakes as learning opportunities. In a study measuring brain activity, there was no difference when participants gave correct answers or made mistakes. However, after receiving feedback on mistakes, those with a growth mindset responded better, showing greater error awareness and higher post-error adjustments than those with a fixed mindset. This suggests that people with a growth mindset are more adaptable and open to learning from their mistakes (Tirri & Kujala, 2016).
Increased motivation
A large meta-analysis shows that learning about neuroplasticity positively impacts mindset, motivation, achievement, and brain activity (Sarrasin et al., 2018). Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt, supports lifelong learning. When facing obstacles or setbacks, it's crucial to remember that improvement is possible with effort. Struggle provides the brain with the activity it needs to grow and become more efficient.
Question for you
Consider an area of your life where you demonstrate a growth mindset. Do you find yourself more motivated and more likely to succeed there? In what ways?
There are different mindsets throughout your life
Sometimes it's hard to recognize whether you have a fixed or growth mindset, as these beliefs often operate subconsciously. Plus, you might have a growth mindset about one thing and a fixed mindset about another aspect of your life. Confusing, huh? It is for me!
By becoming more aware of your mindset, you can actively catch yourself when slipping into fixed thinking.
For example, a successful businesswoman might have a growth mindset about leadership, putting in the time and effort to improve her skills and embracing challenges. However, she might hold a fixed mindset when it comes to technology, saying, "I’ve never been good with computers," and avoiding learning new tools.
It's common to have a growth mindset in some areas of life and a fixed one in others.
The same successful businesswoman might have once had a growth mindset about finance, perhaps right after completing her MBA. She only realizes her fixed mindset has resurfaced when she feels jealous of a colleague's financial success — a classic fixed mindset trigger. Similarly, you may have had a growth mindset about a topic in the past, but upon reflection, notice you've unconsciously slipped back into fixed thinking. For certain areas, we must stay vigilant and make a conscious effort to continually nurture and embrace a growth mindset.
Note
You likely won’t change your mindset overnight and may catch yourself making fixed mindset statements. Carol Dweck suggests adding "not yet" to these thoughts as a simple way to reframe them. When you're struggling, just remind yourself that you haven’t mastered that skill... yet.
EXERCISE 1
Next time you’re at the dinner table with family or friends, try switching things up. Instead of asking the usual “How was your day?”, ask different, more thought-provoking questions. Sure, you might get a few eye rolls—especially from the kids—but you're an adult, you can handle it!
Here are a few questions to try and see if it sparks deeper conversation:
What did you do today that challenged you?
What happened today that made you push through when things got tough?
What mistake did you make today that taught you something new?
Pay attention to the shift in conversation and see what you discover.
EXERCISE 2
The “Two-Minute Power-Up” Writing Exercise
This activity blends insights from health and behavioral psychology for a quick but powerful mental reset.
Research in health psychology shows that writing about your life, even for a short time like 2 minutes, has measurable positive effects (Burton & King, 2008).
Behavioral psychology points to the importance of future-focused thinking as one of the best ways to stay motivated (Scholten et al., 2019).
How It Works This two-minute power-up pairs rapid-fire writing with future planning to keep you motivated and in a growth mindset.
Activity Instructions
Set a two-minute timer.
Respond to each growth-mindset writing prompt for exactly two minutes.
Keep writing the entire time. If you’re writing by hand, don’t lift the pen. If you’re typing, keep your fingers moving—even if you make mistakes.
Try to fit this exercise into your weekly reflection or planning routine. If you don’t have one yet, carve out 8 minutes on a Friday to plan growth-oriented activities for the week ahead.
Questions
Okay, here are your questions to answer in 2-minutes. Go!
What challenges am I facing at the moment?
What fresh approaches have I experimented with?
What do I want to learn by the end of the week?
What’s one bold step I’ll take to push myself beyond my comfort zone?
Who can I connect with for support this week?
How was that? Do you like these kinds of activities? Want more or less?
Next time we will talk about changing your mindset. They are generally pretty consistent throughout your life, and it takes work to change them, but you definitely can.
Becky Gosky, Neuro Shift