Three Simple Steps Towards a Growth Mindset
The actions you need to take for a less stressful life.
Hello friend! :)
Basma here, from Books Mixture, your biweekly newsletter featuring insightful stories from the best psychology, philosophy, and self-development non-fiction books.
This week's letter will provide you with three simple and easy steps to apply for cultivating a growth mindset. Additionally, it will define what a growth mindset is and explain why you need it.
Let's dive in!
Human beings are inclined to grow and change. With every breath we take we want something, or we need something.
To grow is to improve. To grow is to be more mature. To grow is to be a better version of yourself.
You can grow in a specific area but struggle in another. No one will ever figure it all out until the day we die. We are faced with choices every day. Either to act or to react. Either to take action or stay still. Either take a calculated risk or stay on the safe side.
To tempt you to continue reading, let’s start by discussing the benefit of having a growth mindset, and then dig deeper into how to have one.
Why Have a Growth Mindset?
The benefits of having a growth mindset include:
Resilience: When you have a growth mindset you’ll tend to bounce back easily from setbacks and failures.
Continuous Improvement: You are more likely to embrace challenges. And, see them as opportunities for learning and growth.
Increased Effort: You’ll be more willing to put in more effort to achieve your goals. Because you believe in your ability to improve.
Higher Achievement: You often achieve more in both academic and professional settings. Due to your perseverance and willingness to learn.
Better Relationships: A growth mindset fosters collaboration and cooperation. It leads to stronger interpersonal connections. You won’t blame others as much. You’ll start looking for your mistakes. And, excuse others more.
Reduced Stress: By focusing on growth and progress rather than what you don’t have, you’ll experience less anxiety and stress.
Adaptability: You’ll be better equipped to adapt to changes and challenges in your environment. This will lead to greater flexibility and innovation.
We can talk about the benefits of a growth mindset all day. But, what are the actionable simple steps to apply it? Let’s see…
Three Simple Steps Towards a Growth Mindset
#1 Own your problems: No one is coming to “save” you.
Your life is yours to shape, whether you choose misery or satisfaction.
The idea that we’re products of our past, as touted by the media and traditional psychology, doesn’t hold. Blaming parents, bosses, or the economy means shirking responsibility for your problems. This approach contradicts a growth mindset.
Shifting blame to others means you’re less likely to act on solving your issues. You are always pointing fingers instead.
Actions to take out of this:
If you find yourself thinking, “X is the reason I did Y,” stop and change your thought to “I chose to do Y.”
Explore your issues. Spend time alone to understand what bothers you and what you want to change.
Avoid overthinking. Focus on taking steps to address your problems.
In short, have a problem solver mindset. A problem solver is someone who fixes problems, not complains about them.
#2 Quit being reactive. Be proactive.
The following is driven by Steven Covey’s ideas in his famous book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.
TLDR; proactive people are driven by value, and reactive people are driven by feelings.
What does it mean to be reactive?
Reactive people are susceptible to their surroundings. They are swayed by their environment. They feel good when the weather is pleasant and perform poorly when it’s not.
Reactive people’s emotions are influenced by their social interactions. Positive treatment boosts their mood, while negative treatment makes them defensive.
Their emotional well-being hinges on others’ actions. They allow others’ flaws to dictate their feelings.
What does it mean to be proactive?
Proactive people maintain their inner climate regardless of external conditions. Their commitment to producing quality work is not dependent on the social weather.
Proactive individuals, prioritize their values over immediate impulses.
They base their actions on deeply held values. They still experience external pressures but choose their responses based on their principles.
Recognizing that our present selves are not only the result of past choices, is challenging. But, it’s essential for taking control of our future. Only by acknowledging the impact of our decisions can we choose a different path.
Example
In all forward-thinking societies’ major works, love is shown as an action.
Reactive individuals treat it as merely a feeling, letting emotions guide them. Hollywood often makes us think we’re at the mercy of our feelings. Suggesting we’re not accountable for our actions.
This view doesn’t match reality. If feelings dictate our actions, it’s because we’ve given them the power by not taking responsibility.
Proactive people live love as an action. Love is about the sacrifices made and putting others first, as a mother does for her newborn.
To really understand love, look at those who sacrifice for others, even if they’re not loved back. If you’re a parent, think about the love shown through your sacrifices for your children.
Love is more than a feeling; it’s shown through actions. Proactive individuals prioritize values over feelings. This way, the feeling of love can be reignited.
Simple steps you can take now to be more proactive:
Recognize Your Circle of Influence: Understand the difference between what you can control (your circle of influence) and what you can’t control (your circle of concern). Focus your energy and efforts on the former.
Develop a Proactive Language: Use language that reflects choice and responsibility, such as “I choose to” or “I will” instead of “I can’t” or “I have to.” This reinforces the mindset of being in control of your actions.
Practice Proactive Listening: Listen actively to others without immediately reacting. This helps in understanding their perspectives and responding in a thoughtful and value-driven way.
Seek Feedback and Learn from Experiences: Regularly seek feedback on your actions and decisions. Use this as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than a criticism to react against.
Take Initiative in Relationships: Don’t wait for others to act or make the first move in personal or professional relationships. Be the one to initiate positive changes and build stronger connections.
#3 Expand your circle of influence
To determine your circle of influence, you must identify both what you can and cannot control. So, how do you distinguish between the two?
Defining What You Can Control
What you can control shapes your actions, reactions, feelings, and the decisions you make in response to any situation.
This includes:
Your attitude.
The effort you put into your work.
How you choose to spend your time.
The way you communicate and interact with others.
Focusing on these aspects means dedicating energy to:
Personal growth.
Skill development.
Emotional regulation.
By focusing on these elements, you can improve your effectiveness, happiness, and resilience.
Defining What You Can’t Control
What you can’t control involves external factors such as:
Other people’s actions.
Other people’s thoughts.
Other people’s feelings.
Along with broader circumstances like the economy, weather, or global events.
Attempting to control these aspects can lead to frustration and stress. Because they are beyond your direct influence. Recognizing this boundary is crucial for focusing your efforts more productively.
Simple steps to expand your “Circle of Influence”:
Focus on Being Proactive: Concentrate on things within your control. This mindset shift from reactive to proactive can expand your influence. As you take charge of your actions and reactions.
Improve Your Emotional Intelligence: Enhance your self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. This can lead to better relationships and a stronger influence on those around you.
Build Strong Relationships: Develop trust and rapport with others. Strong, positive relationships enable you to have a greater influence. In both your personal and professional lives.
Enhance Your Communication Skills: Learn to be an active listener, and persuasive. Effective communication can increase your ability to influence others.
Advocate for Change: When you see opportunities for improvement, whether in your workplace, family, or wider society, take the initiative to advocate for positive change.
By focusing on these areas, you can gradually expand your Circle of Influence. Enabling yourself to make a significant impact in your personal and professional life.
In conclusion, the path to a growth mindset is paved with the choices we make every day.
It’s about taking control of our narrative, committing to personal growth, and living our lives with intention and purpose.
Let us embrace these steps, knowing that each effort, each decision to act rather than be acted upon, expands our horizons and brings us closer to the best version of ourselves.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it, let me know by hitting the like button ❤️ to help others find it on Substack, and share it to spread the love!
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Thank you for reading! Speak soon :)
— Basma
Love this!
Great article thanks for sharing and the mention.