Mindset – Carol Dweck
Book - Mindset by Dr Carol Dweck
Guidance or Advice -
Our genes influence our intelligence and talents, but these qualities are not fixed at birth.
If you mistakenly believe that your capabilities derive from DNA and destiny, rather than practice and perseverance, then you operate with what Dweck calls a “fixed mindset” rather than a “growth mindset.”
Our parents and teachers exert a big influence on which mindset we adopt—and that mindset, in turn, has a profound impact on how we learn and which paths we take in life. In experiment after experiment, Dweck has shown that the fixed mindset is a huge psychological roadblock—regardless of whether you feel you were blessed with talent or not.
If you have the fixed mindset and believe you were blessed with raw talent, you tend to spend a lot of time trying to validate your “gift” rather than cultivating it.
Result -
As someone who could relate to many of the fixed mindset attributes this book helped me come to the realization that these were indeed engrained facets of my life and I had previously known no alternative.
The fixed mindset attributes for me were at often times paralyzing, where fear of failure meant not undertaking the challenge or lesson at all like that was somehow the better option.
Being exposed to the fact that there is an alternative and the acknowledgment that these were limiting factors in my life, I have begun taking a more proactive approach to growth opportunities generally.
With the assistance of this book Dweck identifies ways in which a variation in approach can make all the difference. Photos - The book and growth mindset characteristics
