Carol Dweck, a well-known psychologist at Stanford University, created the idea that there are two types of mindsets. One is called a fixed mindset and the other is called a growth mindset. It is important to be aware of which mindset you have to make the necessary changes you wish to see. Let’s go over the two types of mindsets.
A fixed mindset believes that their abilities and intelligence are fixed. People with a fixed mindset do not believe that they can get any better than they are now. They believe that they have the ability or don’t have the ability, leaving no gray area in between.
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be further developed. People with a growth mindset strive to get better in different aspects of their lives because they know that there is always room for improvement.
Developing a growth mindset is one of the most important aspects to adopt. The type of mindset you possess will determine your course of action toward what you are working for. People with a fixed mindset hope for good things to happen to them without using any effort. People with a growth mindset understand that they can grow by putting effort into their abilities and intelligence, which lead them to be more successful.
In the baseball world, having a growth mindset will separate the best from the average. Talent will only take you so far before the ones who consistently work hard pass you by. A great deal of talented players, especially the ones who recognize their talent at a younger age, will rely mostly on their ability to succeed. They have a false belief that their talents will carry them to the highest level without putting in the hard work. The players who work hard everyday may not have been the best when they first started playing baseball, but they had the right mindset to get better. Eventually, the hard working players surpass the talented players. If you are a talented player, developing a growth mindset is essential to continue to succeed at every level you play at. If you are less talented, adopt the growth mindset and understand that “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”
Here are 7 ways to adopt a growth mindset:
- Look at failure in a positive way. No one enjoys failure, but with failure comes opportunities to grow and get better when facing the same experience again.
- Work on your self-awareness. Having great self-awareness of your qualities, such as strengths and weaknesses, enables you to take the right course of action to get better at what is essential to you. Realize that you have the potential to accomplish anything you desire.
- Become and stay curious. Curiosity will make you think more and expand your mind to different views. Keep an open mind while learning or conversing. You may be surprised that your way of thinking is not the only “right” way.
- Keep on learning and implement the information into your life. Just because you are not where you want to be does not mean you cannot get there. In most cases, you can get to where you want to be by simply learning and applying that knowledge.
- Create good habits. Understand your goals and how developing a growth mindset will help to get you there. Create the habit of adding the word “yet” at then end of something you are working on. An example would be “I cannot throw a baseball 120 feet…yet.”
- Stick with the process. Growing is a process so understand that and stick to it. There is no such thing as an over night success and there is always a journey to get to where you want to be.
- Reflect. Anytime you want to get better at something, you should keep a journal and reflect on your progress and setbacks. This will allow you to make the necessary adjustments and put you back on track to accomplishing your goal.
Every person has the potential to be great. It is your responsibility to understand that and to act on it if you truly desire to be the best at something. You are in control of your own career and your own life.
