They say, "practice makes perfect?" Trust me, there's a lot of truth to that statement. But what if we changed our mindset around practice? What if instead of aiming for perfection, we aimed for growth? This is the core idea behind the Growth Mindset that I learn in the first course of my graduate program. Now that I am 4 courses into my graduate studies, my understanding remains the same although I find myself thinking with this mindset more often through the various aspects of my life.
In order to have an impact on the Growth Mindset of others, it is important to consider a few other key factors. First, it is essential to be clear about what you want to achieve. Second, you need to be able to articulate your goals and plans in a way that inspires others. Finally, you must be willing to put in the hard work required to make your vision a reality.
The Growth Mindset is all about embracing mistakes and failures as opportunities to learn and grow. It's about acknowledging and understanding why intelligence isn't fixed. Intelligence can be developed over time with effort and persistence. So why does this matter? Why bother changing our mindset from one focused on perfection to one focused on growth? Because research has shown us that individuals who have a Growth Mindset tend to achieve more than those with a Fixed Mindset (Dweck, 2016). They're more resilient in the face of setbacks because they don't see failure as indicative of their worth or ability level. Instead, they view it as an opportunity.
If you're looking to achieve more in your life, consider adopting a Growth Mindset. I would be the first to tell anyone to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Be persistent in the face of setbacks. Take on new challenges with excitement instead of fear. And remember, intelligence isn't fixed - it can be developed over time through hard work and dedication!
References
Dweck, C.S. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Penguin Random House LLC.
Dweck, C. (2017). Decades of Scientific Research that Started a Growth Mindset Revolution. The Growth Mindset – What is Growth Mindset – Mindset Works. https://www.mindsetworks.com/Science/Default.
Dweck, C. (2020, April 2). Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/23/carol-dweck-revisits-the-growth-mindset.html.
I like the sound of practices brings growth vs. practice make perfect. A growth mindset is definitely needed while enrolled in the ADL program. I have learned things I'm sure I would have not learned in other graduate programs. Applying the COVA approach has made this quite the experience!