Having a pro-growth mindset is essential for anyone seeking success in life. Before I get into why, let’s take a look at what a pro-growth mindset is, and how it contrasts with its alternative, the fixed mindset.
A common mindset that people have that is not conducive to success is the fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is the belief that your abilities, personality, and character are inherent and does not change, and that your potential is fixed.
Those with fixed mindsets often live their lives to prove themselves and try to look smart and talented. Instead of seeking personal growth, learning, and development, they are more focused on appearing a certain way.
As a result, they’ll pick the safe route and avoid taking risks and confronting challenges. They’ll also stick to what they know and not make efforts to change and improve. This stems from the fear of failure because a fixed mindset does not believe in growth, so failure would indicate they are not talented enough and have hit the limit of their potential. That’s why they often say things like, “I could do what that successful person did if I tried” or “I actually had an idea like that and now someone became successful off of that idea” to try to show off what they believe is their inherent abilities.
What they fail to realize is that the world doesn’t care about what they can do. The world only cares about what they have done and what they’re actually going to do. A genius who lives in his parents’ basement and does nothing is more worthless than a broke, uneducated, homeless person constantly hustling and trying to make the most out of his life. The former contributes nothing to society, while the latter has a spirit and the potential to grow and develop into a greater person.
I have far more respect for someone who tries and fails than someone who never tries at all. One is living while the other is merely existing.
Those who avoid failure to try to appear smart and talented will never become successful, while those who embrace challenges, take risks, and believe in constant learning and development will. These are the people with pro-growth mindsets.
A pro-growth mindset believes that abilities, personality, and character can be continuously developed, and that true potential is unknown and unknowable.
Those with pro-growth mindsets are constantly learning, developing their skills, and improving themselves. They know that there’s always room for growth and that progress brings happiness and fulfillment in life. They are the risk-takers, the ones who embrace challenges and confront uncertainties, and as a result, they are responsible for the great achievements of civilization.
Those who truly change the world have to go against the status quo, and that requires risk-taking, going through difficulties and challenges, and handling uncertainty.
But even if your ambitions are more modest, a pro-growth mindset is essential for success because continuous development of your abilities, personality, and character will expand the potential of what you can achieve. Combine that with not shying away from risks, challenges, and uncertainty, and you have someone who is not only constantly getting better but someone who is also taking action and getting things done. These are the ingredients for success.
When someone with a pro-growth mindset encounters a failure, that isn’t an indication that he has hit his limit or potential, but that is an opportunity to learn from the experience and to grow and get better. There is no such thing as a limit or fixed potential to someone with a pro-growth mindset.
Thomas Edison, for example, had about a thousand failed attempts when trying to invent the light bulb, but he learned something each time he failed and with his persistence, he eventually succeeded and completely changed the world.
A pro-growth mindset is also linked to positivity and happiness. Always knowing that what you are today does not necessarily have to remain what you are tomorrow is the basis for hope and optimism. Working on yourself, making progress, taking action, and achieving goals are all acts that lead to fulfillment and happiness. Thus, a pro-growth mindset isn’t just a better way to achieve success, it is also a better way to live.
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