According to Stanford University psychologist and researcher, Carol S. Dweck, there are two kinds of people in this world – those with a fixed mindset, and those with a growth mindset. This article explores how your mindset influences self-discipline.
What’s The Difference Between Fixed & Growth Mindsets?
People with fixed mindsets believe their characteristics, traits, and skillsets are permanent and, therefore, cannot be changed. They are more likely to attribute success to natural talent and feel attached to – and proud of – their current level of brilliance, skill, or brainpower, rather than seeking to improve through hard work and focus.
People with growth mindsets, conversely, assume that talent, skill, and intelligence are changeable and can develop with practice, learning, and hard work. They acknowledge that despite their current position, they can improve. As such, they view success as attainable regardless of the starting point. No goal is too big.
A Fixed Mindset Is The Enemy Of Self-Discipline
If you follow Dweck’s model, it’s easy to see how a fixed mindset is the enemy of self-discipline. Let’s say, for example, that you want to lose weight. Maybe you compare yourself to a very slim or physically fit friend.
What if you hear this friend say things such as “I’ve always been small,” “I have a fast metabolism,” and “No matter what I do, I just can’t seem to gain weight!” This person seems to eat and drink whatever they want, never exercise (as far as you know) and look fantastic. While you, on the other hand, can’t seem to lose weight no matter what.
You conclude that you “just have a slow metabolism,” “accept that you’re probably not meant to be any smaller,” and believe it’s outside your power to make the change you desire.
The truth is that your fixed beliefs are holding you back from reaching your goals, nothing more. Your fixed mindset steals your power. It puts distance between you and the big idea that although it may take a bit more effort than you’re accustomed to, you can change.
It’s all about perspective. More often than not, people who’ve achieved results you only dream of have generally put in much more work and effort behind the scenes than is evident from external observation. They just don’t talk about it.
Think about “overnight celebrity.” Tales abound of people who seemingly come out of nowhere to instant stardom. You’ve never heard of them before, then suddenly you see them everywhere and they make it look so easy. Yet, when you look into their past, you find that they’ve been working extremely hard for years, finally had a big break, and now are reaping the benefits of the seeds they’d sewn years before.
A fixed mindset is closed to ideas of hard work, patience, determination, persistence, trial, and error, and learning as you go. Yet, these are the very traits on which self-discipline is based.
A Growth Mindset Makes Self-Discipline Inevitable
Just as a fixed mindset is the enemy of self-discipline, a growth mindset supercharges self-discipline and positions it as the top tool in your goal-setting toolbox.
Let’s return to our example of weight loss, assuming a growth mindset this time. What changes?
Well, first of all, you acknowledge that you may have struggled with your weight in the past, but you decide that it has no bearing on your future. You know you can change.
If you do think you “have a slow metabolism,” rather than assume it’s preventing you from losing weight, you’ll go to the doctor, have some tests run, and gain concrete evidence of such along with recommendations for how to improve.
Furthermore, you educate yourself on healthy, sustainable weight loss methods, taking your lifestyle, preferences, and limitations into consideration. You understand that the process may take some time, and it won’t always be fun, yet you’re aware of the reason behind your desire to lose weight, commit to the goal and believe that with time, focus and determination, you can make it happen.
Which Mindset Do You Have?
In Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, Dweck explains that it’s common to have a fixed mindset in some areas and a growth mindset in others.
If you’re naturally shy, you may have low confidence in social situations. Yet a growth mindset may push you to step outside your comfort zone and go to events where you’ll meet new people and try new things.
On the other hand, since you’ve always been shy, perhaps you spent lots of time reading books and studying as a younger person, thus effortlessly achieving academic success. You may consider yourself “naturally smart” and have a fixed mindset in this area.
You Can Change Your Mindset One of the first steps to improve your self-discipline is to become self-aware. If you analyze your personality and find that you have a fixed mindset, know that you can
Click here to grab a copy of Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success.
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