Have you ever heard the famous quote by Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can, or you think you  can’t you’re right.”  

This came to mind today as I was reflecting on book I read about 6 years ago called mindset by Carol S. Dweck. I loved this book! There are a few very specific things I remember learning in her book- but what I’m sure she’s most known for is the growth vs the fixed mindset. 

The Growth Mindset VS. The Fixed Mindset

The growth mindset is believing that your abilities can be developed and improved upon over time, while the fixed mindset is the belief that you can’t change that you are the way you are, things are the way they are it’s all already determined.  

Developing the Growth Mindset in Children

 I remembered a part of her book where she was talking about how to help your children develop the growth mindset. I didn’t have kids at the time but this stuck with me as something I wanted to remember and put in my vault of important information to remember for when I have kids! And now that I have an almost 3 year old I find myself talking like this all the time.

She says something along the lines of “say your child gets an A on a test. Instead of saying oh my goodness you’re so smart! Wow you’re amazing! Say, wow you must have studied so hard to get that A on your test!”

So putting the emphasis on the effort on the work on the action that produced a certain outcome. And I don’t remember if that’s the exact example or wording but you get the gist of it. Anyway I loved that insight and emphasis so much while praising our kids! 

The good news!

I love the black and white of the fixed and the growth mindset.   If you think about Henry Fords quote. This relates perfectly to the two mindsets. 

Whether you think you can(growth) or you can’t(fixed) you are right. 

This is such good news in my mind because it means that we are in control! We get to choose and if we find ourselves thinking with the fixed mindset, we can chose to adopt the growth mindset instead.  And wow once you do how your life will drastically change!! 

How this applies to you

Let’s put this into an example that may apply to you. 

So you think you can’t delete social media because you’ve tried in the past and you’ve relapsed every single time, or you have no other way to connect with people or stay in the know, you don’t know how to grow your business or connect with likeminded people.

That’s the fixed mindset my friend, let’s explore what could the growth look like in this situation? 

So I’ve tried to delete social media many times in the past, haven’t been able to successfully YET, I’m going to try another approach, I know I’ll figure it out eventually through trial and error, I’ll keep trying new things keep learning from my previous experiences until I find what’s going to work for me. This is something that matters in my life i’m going to get there no matter what it takes.

Now that’s a lot better. Pay attention to the energy behind each of those, it’s night and day difference!! 

Imagine this..

Imagine if you chose today to embody the growth mindset? 

Imagine the world of possibility that would open up to you! Suddenly you go from stuck, stagnant complacent maybe. To- let’s see what I can do! I can figure this out, I’m in control of my destiny here! 

That is how I hope all of us can’t chose to move through life! 

I love these mindsets because it really doesn’t allow you to make excuses it puts you, & your mindset in control. 

You want to improve your mental health? You want to get fit you want to have a better relationship with or spouse? You can make changes, you can change the direction things are headed. You can change your mindset around the way you think about or physically do things in these areas. 

You’re the problem & the solution!

A little tough love here, YOU are what stands in the way! You may be the problem!! And with that you are also the solution. You’re one new thought one action one follow rough one courageous act away from finding the solution or fixing the problem.

If you want a different outcome for your life you’re tired of feeling lazy, tired of wasting time, tired of procrastinating, tired of feeling behind feeling not good enough, YOU have to act differently. Try something new try something hard push yourself stretch expand! 

You absolutely don’t have to do what the world tells you to do. With the growth mindset YOu can pave your own path, you can do life differently, do life the way that it feels good, feels fulfilling feels expansive to you.

Action step!

So my action for you to take today! Is to identify which mindset you find yourself most embodying. And consciously choose to adopt the growth mindset and to be more aware of it! 

We have the ability to choose growth choose progression choose change! Throughout our life. So with the awareness of this ability we have to choose- let’s choose to commit to continual growth, to a life of learning. Let’s choose to take action! And new action where needed. 

Let’s choose to push our limits and see what we’re capable of! 

We’re not here to stay the same, to stay stuck to stay complacent. Let’s work to become all we can be! To discover God’s will for us and fulfill it wholeheartedly. If his will feels impossible remember the growth mindset, make it part of you part of your being- and before you know it you’ll find yourself feeling so at peace, so aligned as you’re doing and being the person He sent you, yes you specifically here to be. 

Sending all my love and I’ll catch you next Monday. 

xx

Carly

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