What’s your Mindset?

Do you strive to be the best you can be? Or do you settle for what you have and who you are? Well, whichever your answer, it is probably due to your attitude or mindset. So, which mindset are you? Do you have a fixed mindset, or do you favour a growth mindset?

A Fixed Mindset.

Fixed thinking, or a fixed mindset is believing that people have a basic, built in knowledge or intelligence and there is nothing we can do to change it. Someone who has a fixed mindset might say “I passed that exam because I’m smart,” or, “I can’t spell, which is why I’m no good at reading.” It is an acceptance of their circumstances, a ‘Fête Accomplie’. People with a fixed mindset often find change hard.

 A Growth Mindset.

A growth mindset is the opposite. It is a belief that our basic intelligence and our knowledge are not fixed, and that intelligence can be developed over time, with practice, and through effort and determination our intelligence can grow. A person with a growth mind might say, ”I did well in that exam because I worked hard,” or “I’m not good at reading yet, but I’m working on my spelling, so it will help me improve on my reading too.”

For many years now, the growth mindset or way of thinking has been linked to better self-esteem in children and also better outcomes in test results throughout their school years and into adulthood.

Many schools and agencies now promote growth mindset activities to build children’s confidence and support the development of a growth mindset.

As a consequence, this develops children’s resilience, and it will also increase a child’s love of learning. In essence encouraging children to have a growth mindset is all about praising and rewarding effort.

You can find all sorts of resources to promote a Growth Mindset. From Brain Training Games to books and courses. Take a look online. Use as many as you can in order to challenge yourself and grow. And encourage your children to do so too. They will copy your lead.  

Here are some tips on how to develop a growth mindset and work on improving your intelligence.

• See challenges as opportunities not problems.
• Be responsible for your own attitude
• Try different ways of teaching and learning
• Enjoy the journey, don’t just focus on the    destination
• There is no failure – only feedback
• Reward and value effort and actions, more than characteristics or talent
• Learn from your mistakes and also from other people’s
• Be open to trying new things
• Believe in yourself

Adopting a growth mentality isn’t just essential to your life, I think it’s absolutely critical! With a growth mentality, you can focus on improvement, instead of worrying about how clever you are-or aren’t. You really can work hard to learn and get smarter, no matter how old you are.

 After all, why not, if it helps you to be the best you can be!

Belinda Wells, Ollie Coach

Belinda is an Ollie Coach and Foster Carer. Previously a Primary School Teacher, she now has over 20 years’ experience working with children. Her interests are psychology, how we think and why we behave as we do, and she loves learning and writing.  Belinda enjoys seeing the difference her work as an Ollie Coach can make to the children and families she works with.

To get in contact with Belinda email Belinda.wells@ollieandhissuperpowers.com

To find out more about Ollie and his Super Powers and how to become an Ollie Coach go to https://www.ollieandhissuperpowers.com/pages/about-us