Soul Sculpting: Un-Fixing a Fixed Mindset: The Tools       Part 2

Research study: Children are asked to “think out loud” as they face problem-solving tasks, some too difficult for them. One boy (my new role model) reaches a question that completely stumps him and he responds by pulling up his chair, rubbing his hands together, smacking his lips and announcing, “I love a challenge.”                                                                                                       (Dweck and Diener, University of Illinois)

Lately I’ve begun facing every day with too many things to do and every task that is over whelming with the words, “I love a challenge!”

Does it help? Yes. It is one of the tools I now use for un-fixing my Fixed Mindsets and developing Growth Mindsets.

With a Growth Mindset, I believe that my abilities and my world can be developed through dedication and hard work. This enables me to move forward and and become who I want/ feel called to be.

With a Fixed Mindset I see myself and my world as set in stone. No amount of reasonable effort changes it. I feel trapped and hopeless.

Mindsets are created by our inner monologues. The self talk that fills our days.

The answer to the question ‘what caused that to happen?’ is what creates our mindsets.      ( Attribution Theory)

Q. Why did I fail that test?

A. I didn’t study enough. (Growth Mindset )

or

A.I was born stupid. (Fixed Mindset)

How is your inner monologue going today?

Here are some tools I have been using to improve my monologue.

Tool #1: View challenges as opportunities.

• Change our self-talk to “I love a challenge.”

Consider it a sheer gift, friends when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. (James 1:2)

Tool #2 Remember the research on brain plasticity.

• God built us for growth and change. Research shows that our brain isn’t fixed, it continues to develop all our life.
• Change our self-talk to “I am built for growth and change.”

Tool #3 Replace the word “failing” with the word “learning.”

• People with a growth mindset are not discouraged by failure. They don’t actually see themselves as failing –they see themselves as learning.

I am definitely not there, yet. Yesterday I walked out of a gathering feeling like a failure. I had not related well and I was discouraged. As I drove home groveling, I decided to put this tool to work. I prayed, “God, how can I turn this failure into learning?” Ideas began to come and I now have a plan for the next time. Turning failure into learning does take some intention.

• Change self-talk from, “I failed.”” to “What can I learn?”

Tool #4 Pat yourself on the back for effort.

• Growth Mindsets develop when others affirm our effort. We can take on the job of our own affirming and reap the benefit of a better mindsets.              Make every effort . . . (2 Peter 1:5)
• Change self-talk to, “Good effort!”

Tool #5 Use the word, “yet.”

• Change self-talk to, I am not an expert at ______ , yet.

• So simple and so effective.

I do not have a Growth Mindset everywhere that I want to – yet, but I am learning to change my inner monologue and I am seeing growth. I’d love to hear what works for you.

My thanks to Dr. Carol Dweck and associates for their work on mindsets.