Young students and old students have one of two mindsets (or at least are dominantly acting in that mindset):
- A fixed mindset
- A growth mindset
Those students with a fixed mindset have specific patterns of thinking that dominate there daily life. They tend to think of things in fixed, rigid, immobile terms. Examples of this thought pattern are when a student learns a fact, absorbs it as law, and then will exhibit resistance when that 'fact' is challenged, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Additionally, they think of themselves in fixed terms. They consider themselves a certain intelligence, a certain level of athletic, a certain attractiveness, etc.
Those students with a growth (or dynamic, it has been called) mindset exhibit patterns of thinking that embrace mobility, flexibility, and willingness to learn and grow. This often leads to faster growth, as the student is always learning and always trying to improve. Examples of this mindset include exercising critical thinking; when presented with evidence that more strongly conflicts with their previous idea of 'facts' than supports it, they tend to be willing and able to discard the old knowledge for the new. They are less likely to resist in the face of overwhelming evidence. They tend to always believe they can improve, they believe they have a dynamic level of intelligence/athleticism/whatever, and they are embrace change and learning.
I know that I have been guilty of a fixed mindset in the past in some areas as well as have had a growth mindset in others, but the beautiful thing is that it can always be changed by being mindful and affirming and realizing that you can always grow and you can always learn. Discard your ego to the degree necessary to learn, be humble, and listen. This will help you learn and grow; it will help you become exactly what you want to be and achieve the goals you want to achieve. If you keep trying, you can ALWAYS succeed and improve!
Like you, i have been guilty of both mindsets in the past. A large part of that i believe, is to do with mental state. If i'm feeling happy and confident then i'm more open to change and willing to try new things. Maybe being conscious of both mindsets will help make me more prone to growth. Thank you.
Definitely! :) ,Thank YOU!