Compiled by Angela Mutiso.
How Do You See The World Around You? And How Do You Interact With The World You See?
The moment that we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability, we will be brittle in the face of adversity. Josh Waitzkin – Chess Grandmaster and Martial Artist.
Some people call it bravery. Others call it resolution. Whatever your views, experts say, a strong mind set is a feature shared by the world’s best players – whether they are tycoons, managers, performers or athletes Mindset which is the topic we explore here, is an “established set of attitudes, regarded as typical of a particular group’s social or cultural values; the outlook, philosophy, or values of a person; frame of mind, attitude, disposition.” Meanwhile, very well mind describes a mindset as a set beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation.
Your mindset is how you see the world around you. And your attitude is how you interact with the world according to how you see things. The three mindsets are the abundance mindset, the positive mindset and the growth mindset.
How important is your mindset?
Mindsets play a significant role in determining life’s outcomes. You may enhance your health, reduce
stress, and become more adaptable to life’s obstacles by understanding, adjusting, and shifting your thinking.
How long does it take to change your mindset?
On average it takes about three to four weeks – but it could take longer. The answer will depend on how deeply ingrained the behavior is that you want to change, as well as your own limiting beliefs.
Why is mindset so powerful?
A positive mindset allows you to keep focused on your goals rather than on negative thoughts. It’s what teaches you that adversity is temporary and won’t impede your progress. It prevents you from making destructive choices.
However, having a strong mindset entails more than merely refusing to give up. A mix of awareness, focus, and resiliency is required for true mental strength. A positive mindset allows you to keep focused on your goals rather than on negative thoughts. It’s what teaches you that adversity is temporary and won’t impede your progress. It prevents you from making destructive choices.
Discussing What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means, Harvard Business Review noted that; (Jan 2016)
Scholars are deeply gratified when their ideas catch on. And they are even more gratified when their ideas make a difference — improving motivation, innovation, or productivity, for example. But popularity has a price: people sometimes distort ideas, and therefore fail to reap their benefits. This has started to happen with my research on “growth” versus “fixed” mindsets among individuals and within organizations – Carol Dweck.
In summary, the findings say: A growth mindset refers to those who feel their talents can be developed (through hard work, excellent strategies, and feedback from others). They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed perspective (those who believe their talents are intrinsic gifts) (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they are less concerned about appearing intelligent and instead focus their efforts on learning. Employees report feeling significantly more empowered and committed when their organizations adopt a growth mentality, and they also receive far more organizational support for cooperation and creativity. People in primarily fixed-mindset organizations, on the other hand, report more of one thing: employee cheating and dishonesty, presumably to gain an advantage in the talent hunt.
Why do some people outshine others?
Why is it that some people seem to shine in whatever sector in which they choose to apply themselves, while others, despite obvious talent, can’t manage even a glimmer? Studies show it is the way they think about their capabilities that really matters. In people with a fixed mindset, the brain is most active when they are being given information about how well they have done, for example, test results or grades says skills you need. It goes on to say that in people with growth mindset, the brain is most active when they are being told what they could do to improve. It is very different from ‘how did I do?’ to ‘how can I do better next time?
The Tortoise and the Hare” is one of Aesop’s Fables and is numbered 226 in the Perry Index. A typical example to illustrate this message, is the story of the race between the Tortoise and the Hare; the Hare was so sure that he would win the race that he sat down and went to sleep during the race. The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.
The hare had a fixed mindset. He believed that his innate ability would always mean that he would win whatever he did. The Tortoise on the other hand had a growth mindset. He believed he needed to work had and keep going if he was to be ahead. He was also not afraid of failure as we can see.
Heard of neuroplasticity?
You can change your mindset. This is possible because neuroscience shows that our brains continue to develop and change even as adults. It shows that old dogs can actually learn new tricks. skills you need says the brain is actually quite plastic, and can be reshaped overtime forming new neural pathway. This has made scientists call this tendency neuroplasticity. These neuropathways are developed by doing or thinking particular things. The things that we do or say become hardwired into our brains as habits. These form
defined ‘routes’ in our brain, which become easier to use.
The good news is that you can still change your way of thinking. You must first realize that you need to, then to train your brain in the new skill. Neuroscience shows that our brains continue to develop and change even as adults. One of the best things you can do to yourself would be to develop a growth mindset. It can open a brand new world for you and encourage flexibility. It is noted for example, that people with a fixed mindset are discouraged by quite a number of changes including set backs in their lives.
They give up easily even over important things they could work harder to achieve. While people with
a growth mindset look at setbacks as opportunities to learn. They fight harder to overcome issue. Just remember there are two way to view intelligence or ability: Ability- it is fixed or ingrained. That is to say we are born with a certain level of ability and we cannot change that. That is referred to as a fixed mindset. We can develop our ability through hard work and effort. That is called a growth mindset.
The hare had a fixed mindset. He believed that his innate ability would always mean that he would win whatever he did. The Tortoise on the other hand had a growth mindset. He believed he needed to work hard and keep going if he was to be ahead. He was also not afraid of failure.
Angela Mutiso is an editorial consultant with the Accountant Journal.
