“I didn’t reach my athletic peak until I was 43. I didn’t write my first book until I was 44. I didn’t start my podcast until I was 45. At 30, I thought my life was over. In my 50s I know it’s just beginning. Keep running. Never give up. And watch your kite soar.”

Rich Roll

Do you ever feel like you are too stuck in your old ways to try something new?

You have a desire to change, but for some reason, you never give it a go. Maybe you would love to learn how to sing, become a gardener, run a marathon, start a business, or write fiction. But it remains an unfulfilled dream.

Your mindset could be getting in the way.

The psychologist Carol Dweck distinguished between “fixed” and “growth” mindsets in her book Mindset. 

A “fixed mindset” is when we believe that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static. It’s the view we are born, how we are, and we either have the talent or don’t. We can’t change our situation in any meaningful way because that is how we are. This leads to the desire to try and look smart while avoiding failure at all costs.

A “growth mindset”, on the other hand, is when we view the world through a lens of potential to develop. The view here is that our character, intelligence and creative ability can be developed and mastered. As we stretch ourselves, we improve – we are not static in our ability. This leads to a desire to learn and grow.

As a result of these mindsets, Dweck found that people with a “fixed mindset” often plateau early in life and tend to achieve less than their potential. People with a “growth mindset” consistently reach higher levels of achievement. 

This simple difference in mindset can have a dramatic impact on the successes in our lives.

Do you feel you generally operate with a fixed or growth mindset?

By changing what you think and what you focus on, you could reach new levels of achievement.

It might be time to start something new, with a new mindset.

Reflection

How can I bring more of the growth mindset to my day?

• I will embrace challenges
• When face with an obstacle, I will not give up. 
• Consistent effort is a necessity on the path to mastery.
• I can learn a lot from feedback and criticism
• I can draw inspiration and life lessons from the success of others.