Written by: Seline Shenoy, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Our mindset determines our attitude. It's the perceptual lens through which we see everything in our lives. A growth mindset is rooted in curiosity and positive anticipation. On the other hand, a fixed mindset is based on fear and a sense of lack. By knowing the differences between a fixed vs. growth mindset, you can transform your mindset into one that supports your growth and progress.
“What is the most rigorous law of our being? Growth”– Mark Twain
The definition of mindset
Merriam-Webster defines mindset as the established set of attitudes held by someone. This includes the following:
The way a person thinks
Thought processes
Character
Temperament
Behavior
Psyche
Persona
As adults, we're free to shape our mindset to serve our goals and purpose. While it may take more work for those whose childhood environments didn't cultivate their strengths and curiosity, they can still transmute their thinking with awareness and practice.
The science behind it all
In recent years, modern psychology has highlighted the important role that our beliefs play in predicting our success.
Neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to form and reorganize neural connections, is one of its basic functions. New research has proven that our mind develops neurological pathways after the second time of processing a thought or experience.
This neurological pathway is strengthened every time we face the same situation or experience. These pathways develop a mindset. In some people, it will reinforce a fixed mindset; in others, a growth mindset is formed. It also suggests that the brain can grow and change no matter your age.
Several studies have revealed that genetics influences a person's mindset. The genes we inherit from our parents play a role in our fixed or growth mindset, which brings us back to the age-old question of "nature vs. nurture." These innate traits are reinforced by experiences and situations, mostly during childhood.
Although these neuropathways form an integral part of our mindset, we can change them by understanding why we have a fixed or growth mindset. Understanding how we think enables us to alter our mindset to suit our lifestyle and choices.
Stanford University Psychologist Carol Dweck was the first researcher who developed the theory of fixed and growth mindsets. According to Dweck, regardless of neurological proof, some people still believe that you can only achieve a certain level of success due to the talents or "smarts" you are born with.
She introduced these ideas in her book, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," where she describes the differences between a fixed vs. growth mindset.
Here's Dweck's description of each mindset:
Fixed Mindsets – People with fixed mindsets believe their intelligence and abilities are a part of their natural DNA and cannot be changed.
Growth Mindsets – People with a growth mindset believe they can learn and develop their talents to achieve their goals and succeed.
Illustrious individuals with a growth mindset
Let's look at famous examples of people who cultivated and operated on a growth mindset. Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein, among others. Yes, these remarkable individuals made ground-breaking discoveries that tremendously improved our lives. Pause for a moment; now assume that they had fixed mindsets.
Their intelligence was above average, but what if they decided they were already intelligent and didn't need to develop their ingenuity further? They could spend their time reading, painting, or writing poetry. These brilliant minds innately understood that they had to develop a growth mindset and acquire knowledge to create the physical inventions and theories they envisioned.
Fast forward
The world's wealthiest person in 2022. Have you heard of Elon Musk? The boy had no friends at school and was tormented to such an extent by fellow students that he spent his time in libraries and bookstores, where he found sanctuary. What are those same bullies thinking today while seeing Musk's name on the news daily covering his mind-boggling success?
Elon Musk was born with a high IQ; however, when asked what advice he would give to young people today, his quote is as famous as he is. Musk says, "I read a lot of books." When asked how he learned to build spaceships, he said that he read Russian Books about Astrodynamics and Rocket Propulsion. He also surrounded himself with people like Jim Cantrell, an Aerospace consultant.
According to Musk, if you want to improve your knowledge – read anything and everything. His mother, Maye Musk, says he read two sets of encyclopedias at a very young age.
Clearly, Musk understood the value of curiosity and the principle of changing your fixed mindset to a growth mindset. This is an essential quality for an entrepreneur or anyone who wants to succeed in their field.
Is a growth mindset desirable?
All of us have high intelligence and creative smarts in certain subjects. If we don't use it as an opportunity for growth, it is a loss to ourselves and humanity. In fact, if you don't tap into the neural pathways, the vehicle of thought patterns in your brain, your intelligence might even go into regression.
According to Dr. Dweck, 2016, 'With a growth mindset, individuals may achieve more than others because they are worrying less about seeming smart or talented and putting more of their energy into learning.'
During her research, Dr. Carol Dweck found three common misconceptions about the fixed and growth mindset:
"I already have it, and I always have." Having a growth mindset does not only mean you practice flexible thinking or are optimistic, but it also requires more than that to gain success.
"A growth mindset is just about praising and rewarding effort," Dweck adds that developing a skill or growing in an area is rewarding. However, the outcome of the effort should be taken into consideration. Rewarding an unproductive skill or thought could be detrimental. Praise and rewards should only be given when progress is made after learning and putting in the effort to improve a skill or excelling in a field of study.
"Just espouse a growth mindset, and good things will happen." Adopting a growth mindset is a positive step and can lead to positive outcomes. However, many entrepreneurs will tell you that it does not guarantee success. The growth mindset must be supported with actions and effort; even then, success is not a certainty.
Characteristics and beliefs of a person with a fixed mindset:
Feedback is seen as personal criticism
Challenges are avoided due to possible failure
Intelligence and talent cannot be improved
The success of others causes a feeling of threat
Personal imperfections are hidden to prevent peer judgment
Feedback from others is ignored
There is no point in putting in extra effort
Giving up is easier than failing
Growth mindset characteristics and beliefs are:
The success of others is viewed as an inspiration
Failure is a challenge to overcome and an opportunity to grow
Intelligence can be improved by learning and effort
Feedback is an opportunity to learn
Life is a journey that encourages learning – embrace it
Failure is simply a wave in the ocean. Learn to navigate the waters
Consistent effort is the road to skill and proficiency
Failure is temporary
A growth mindset is not just a nice thing to have; it's essential. It impacts every single facet of your life—from your success in both professional and personal contexts to your capacity for happiness and inner peace.
Learning and overcoming failures is hard enough. A fixed mindset only adds more resistance and makes things so much harder. A growth mindset, on the other hand, is like the tailwind of a plane, speeding up your progress.
Can you change your mindset?
Neuropsychology is the study of the brain's complexity. More specifically, it’s concerned with how a person's cognition and behavior are related to the brain and the rest of the nervous system.
The latest studies have proved that the myth that we only use 10% of the brain has been debunked. Scientists have proven that every part of the brain plays an integral role in our daily lives, including physical movement, color recognition, and problem-solving.
The brain affects emotion, behavior, cognition, and more. While reading this article, your vision, comprehension, interpretation, and more will be active. Brain imagery will appear as small bright-colored areas on the otherwise grey brain matter. Even the brain's grey matter is active, although to a minor degree.
People who have suffered a brain or neurological trauma can still function. Think of the patient who was in a car accident and told they would never walk again, yet, after treatment and rehabilitation, have managed to, using sheer brain power, will themselves to walk.
Good news
The above example will already give you a heads-up. Yes, you can change your mindset. The neuroplasticity in your brain is pliable, and although you have created neuropathways during childhood, youth, and adulthood, it can be altered. In short, this means a person can change how their brain thinks.
The brain can form new pathways, strengthen existing ones, and even improve current neuropathways. Dr. Carol Dweck says that a person with a fixed mindset can transform their thinking into a growth mindset. Someone with a fixed mindset with a 'fear of failure' can adjust their thinking to a growth mindset, enabling them to learn from failure and develop resilience and motivation with the ultimate goal of success.
In a nutshell
Leading a fulfilled and successful life in all areas is not as black and white as people assumed decades ago when they placed intelligence solely on their IQ. Yes, your intelligence quotient can get you ahead, but further studies have confirmed that having a high IQ but not being able to learn and grow has an impact on your success professionally and personally.
Using this newly discovered difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset opens up an entirely different range of possibilities and opportunities. We now know that what or who we become in life takes into consideration our intelligence and our emotions. These qualities of duality and adaptability mean we can change the situation we currently find ourselves in and use our innate determination to succeed in any venture we choose, whether personal or professional.
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Seline Shenoy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Seline Shenoy is a podcast host, journalist, blogger and award-winning writer on psychology, self-help, social and global issues. She is the founder of The Dream Catcher – a blog and podcast community. Its inspirational message has been attracting thousands of readers and listeners every month from all over the world since 2014. Seline is also a managing partner of an IT and software distribution business.
