A Growth Mindset & Making Growth Decisions

“Mindset”, written by Carol Dweck, is one of the most popular Positive Psychology books of the 21st-century. Despite being relatively short, “Mindset” is filled with a plethora of unique and practical ideas, all of which have the power to change your life.

Since this is a single essay, though, and since this essay is relatively short, we’ll be focusing on just two of the key ideas found in “Mindset”.

My hope is that, by the time you’re finished with this essay, you’ll possess a solid understanding of this idea, while also knowing how to apply it in your own life.

2 Types Of Mindsets

Just as the book’s title implies, “Mindset” is all about mindsets. Or, rather, “Mindset” is all about two of the most common mindsets that we, as human beings, tend to possess.

The two mindsets that we all tend to possess are as follows: a Fixed Mindset, and a Growth Mindset.

A Fixed Mindset is a mindset that is focused on the nature of traits, skills, qualities, and abilities as being completely fixed. Rather than possessing the ability to grow and develop in the direction we choose, a Fixed Mindset is a mindset preoccupied with the supposedly fixed or stagnant nature of ourselves and what we are capable of.

A Growth Mindset is, essentially, the exact opposite of a Fixed Mindset. Rather than seeing traits, skills, qualities, and abilities as fixed, a Growth Mindset recognizes that we are, as human beings, fluid and capable of moving and growing in any direction that we choose to grow in.

Those two mindsets aren’t the only mindsets that we can possess. But, as a general framework for understanding the ways in which we can see ourselves and approach our lives, both mindsets are exceptionally useful.

2 Types Of Decisions

Just as there are two types of mindsets — remember, this is a useful framework and the whole of human experience — there are two types of decisions.

The two types of decisions are Fear Decisions and Growth Decisions.

A Fear Decision is a decision made out of fear. Fear is subtle and often illusive, so defining Fear Decisions in clear and precise language is quite challenging. But, as a general rule, a Fear Decision is a decision that neglects growth, development, and even joy, as a result of feeling scared, frightened, uncertain, or fearful of what such a decision might bring.

Growth Decisions are decisions rooted in desires pertaining to growth, novelty, creativity, and development. Unlike Fear Decisions, Growth Decisions are rooted in a desire to experience more and to expand and engage with your abilities. These are the decisions that, more often than not, allow you to become who you wish to be, and to live the life that you truly wish to live.

Your Mindset & Your Decisions

To truly live the life you wish to live, while also becoming who you wish to be, the right mindset is of the utmost importance.

Your mindset is fluid, however, and far from fixed. You possess the ability to shift your mindset at any given time, and you possess the ability to see and engage with circumstances and aims in any way that you desire at any given time.

All that is needed for you to do this is to assume the attitude that allows you to grow and create what is most necessary for you to live the life you wish to live.

For many, the right mindset is a Growth Mindset. A mindset that allows for new possibilities to emerge, and for those possibilities to be engaged with and acted upon.

With a Growth Mindset, you are free to make Growth Decisions. By making Growth Decisions, you are free to propel yourselves to new heights, while experiencing life in greater and greater levels.

Changing Your Mindset

To a great extent, your mindset is a product of your habits. Your habits of thinking, feeling, and acting define the mindset you engage the world with on a daily basis.

The only thing you must do, to change your mindset, is to, on a daily basis, consider your choices.

Right before making a choice, especially if the choice is significant in any way, consider where this choice is coming from.

Are you making your choice from a Fixed Mindset or a Growth Mindset? Are you making a Fear Decision or a Growth Decision?

Those two questions will clarify your mindset, in that exact moment, while also allowing you to make a decision that is more aligned with your deepest aims and most genuine desires.

Just as a disclaimer, though, not all Fear Decisions are bad, and not all Growth Decisions are good.

Fear is practical. You would not want to jump off a building, without any means of landing safely, and being fearful of doing so is wise.

Growth is necessary and inevitable. You will grow, generally speaking, no matter what. Nothing stays the same forever.

Even if you are given the opportunity to make a Growth Decision, if it doesn’t inspire anything within you, or feels wrong on an intuitive level, then there’s no shame in saying “No” and focusing on other decisions that resonate with you far more deeply.

Conclusion

In the end, your mindset is one of the most valuable things you possess.

When you change your mindset, you change your decisions. When you change your decisions, you change your life.

The framework outlined in this essay is not the whole picture. But, as frameworks go, it is useful and has made it easier for me to make transformative decisions that have lead to new opportunities and greater living.

My wish for you is that the framework serves the same purpose and that using it makes it easier for you to make choices that serve you.

Thank you so much for reading this essay! I hope you enjoyed reading it and, if you want to reach me for any reason, you can do so at “maxwellcakin@gmail.com”.

Best Wishes & Have A Great Day!