Failure v. Growth: The Power of Mindset as told by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.

     I normally try to steer clear of cheesy psychological and other "self-help" books, so when Mindset was presented to me as a Christmas gift, I couldn't help but inwardly cringe just a little. With a bland cover making cliched marketing statements such as "How we can learn to fulfill our potential" and "2 million copies in print", I was sure it would be another boring read consisting of the typical jargon about the importance of setting goals, forming good habits, working hard, and other tedious forms of psychospeak.
     Instead, however, I came to find something quite different. Sure, the book certainly talks about using psychology for self-improvement, but it takes an unorthodox approach in doing so. Rather than simply listing a set of actions one needed to take in order to be "successful", Stanford psychologist and author Carol Dweck argues for more of an internal process to first occur. In other words, Dweck preaches the importance of mindset (hence the title). But it goes far beyond basic concepts such as having "glass half-full or empty" outlook on the world, rather, she insists that most people throughout their life walk in limbo between two mental states: having either a "fixed" or "growth" mindset.
     Those who choose to possess a "fixed" mindset believe that all character traits are simply innate, and that success is what defines an individual. Whether it be in sports, arts, business, school, or even interpersonal relationships, fixed mindset individuals deem failure as a sign of a lack of inherent talent or ability. When people with fixed mindsets make mistakes, they tend to dwell heavily on them, but rather than taking action to improve themselves, they simply become complacent and afraid to take risks, fearing failure and telling themselves lies such as "I'll never be good enough".
     On the other hand, there are individuals who choose to possess the "growth" mindset. These individuals also make mistakes, (perhaps even more so than those in the fixed mindset, since they are unafraid of failure) but instead of emotionally dwelling on it, they use them as opportunities for learning and growth. People in the growth mindset are hardworking, and rather than living by an imposed set of "standards" for success and failure, these individuals are more focused on day-by-day progress and self-improvement. Their accomplishments or mistakes in sports, school, or work by no means define them, and are used to push them outside of their comfort zone in order to achieve higher. These individuals do not place their identity in their performance, but rather are passionate and driven learners that embrace failure, which is what truly sets them apart.
     Dweck dives in to a number of case studies to support her argument in favor of the growth mindset, but at the end of the day she admits that no one has just one of the two mindset. Rather there are moments in all of our lives where both the fixed and growth mindsets makes an appearance. Nevertheless, she asserts, it is key that we make a conscious effort daily to maintain a growth mindset. She admits it is challenging, but no one ever achieves anything worthwhile in life within the confines of their comfort zone.
     Whether you are an athlete, parent, student, business person, or simply a human-being, I would highly recommend reading this book. Overly-sentimental though it may sound, this was exactly the kind of self-help read and encouragement that I needed to kick off my new year. It is my personal resolution to have a growth mindset in all areas of my life throughout 2020 and beyond, and I encourage you all to do the same. Our brains are truly potent, but we can train them to our benefit, if only we are willing to view every moment in life as an opportunity for growth.