Grow vs. Fail
Greatness isn’t born, it’s made. Do you believe this? Or do you feel like some people are just destined for greatness?
Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, presents the idea that personal success comes down to a central belief about ourselves, which falls into two mindsets:
Those with a fixed mindset believe that we all have inherent traits, abilities and skills. These individuals try to prove their talents by being successful, and avoid situations that will highlight their shortcomings. “I’m just not good at math. “She’s a natural-born leader.” “I’ve never been musically inclined.”
Those with a growth mindset believe that, while we are all endowed with different qualities, our abilities can be cultivated through concentrated effort. Individuals with this mindset are focused on developing and improving their inherent skills and talents.
While the fixed mindset avoids failure and seeks out success, the growth mindset embraces failure as a necessary means to achieving success. Dweck advocates for the latter mindset because it drives us towards self-improvement, rather than restricting us to our natural abilities. In other words, success is about learning, versus simply proving that you are smart. (Dweck 4-7)
What kind of mindset do you think you have? Take the Mindset Quiz to find out. You will refer back to your results at the conclusion of this quest.
Another way to analyze your mindset is to consider how you would react in the following scenario: You find out in class that you did really poorly on a midterm, and when you come out to the parking lot you find a parking ticket on your car. You text your friend about the rough day you’re having and she responds, but kind of brushes you off. What would your reaction be?
A) “I feel like a reject, a total failure. I never seem to get anything right. The world is out to get me.”
B) “I really need to try harder in class, maybe join that study group. Next time I'll pay better attention to where I park. I wonder why my friend has been so distant; I should probably check in more often.”
Option A would be an example of a fixed mindset: “I’m having a really bad day and there’s nothing to be done about it.” Option B would be an example of a growth mindset: “I can work to make this better.” (Dweck 7-8). Adapting a growth mindset means recognizing that success is not about avoiding failures, but rather about embracing them, taking on challenges, and not giving up.
Do you regard failure as an opportunity or as something purely negative? Think about this question as you watch the video presentation by Bob Berkebile, and consider how you might have dealt with the failure that he faced.
As author and art historian Sarah Lewis observes, “We thrive not when we have done it all but when we still have more to do.” In other words, it is our shortcomings that can drive us to be better. If everything comes easy, or if you are constantly reaffirming what you already know or are capable of, then you are also limiting your opportunities for personal progress and growth.
REFERENCES:
Dweck, Carol S., pH.D. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House, 2006.
Lewis, Sarah. 2014. Sarah Lewis: Embrace the Near Win. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_lewis_embrace_the_near_win?language=en, 2014.
Assignment
Children tend to lean more towards a growth mindset and a love of learning, but many of us develop a fear of failure and a more fixed mindset as adults (Dweck 53). Which mindset do you think you had as a child? Can you remember a time when you really enjoyed learning or tried something without being afraid to fail?
Now think about your current mindset, as identified by the quiz you took. What influences do you think helped develop or maintain that mindset? What effect have your parents, teachers and experiences had on your feelings about failure?