The concept of a growth mindset isn't entirely unfamiliar to me; I first remember learning about it in psychology in high school. Growth vs fixed, intrinsic vs extrinsic, optimism vs pessimism--there are different ways to think about it, but the essence behind these concepts is your mental approach to something can impact its outcome.
I absolutely support this idea. I believe that a mindset is one of the things that you have the most direct control over, and therefore is an extremely powerful tool if used correctly.
However, nothing works in isolation, and that is, in my interpretation, at the heart of most of the critiques of Carol Dweck's growth mindset. The belief that you can fly if you jump high enough, or stay dry in the ocean if you swim fast enough, is not enough to get you what you want. You need an airplane, or a really effective skinsuit, to effectively accomplish those desires, and those things come from your environment, not your attitude.
A growth mindset is a very good step one. I think it should be a standard that people hold for themselves, and that one should always seek attitudes that maximize potential. However, an important step two is seeking out an environment that will also allow you to thrive. And that is something you may have less control over, and because of that, it can be an easy scapegoat. The trick is to not get caught in the that trap, and work to either change your circumstances, or work within them, but not accept "neither" as an option. That reminds me of the old saying:
I absolutely support this idea. I believe that a mindset is one of the things that you have the most direct control over, and therefore is an extremely powerful tool if used correctly.
However, nothing works in isolation, and that is, in my interpretation, at the heart of most of the critiques of Carol Dweck's growth mindset. The belief that you can fly if you jump high enough, or stay dry in the ocean if you swim fast enough, is not enough to get you what you want. You need an airplane, or a really effective skinsuit, to effectively accomplish those desires, and those things come from your environment, not your attitude.
A growth mindset is a very good step one. I think it should be a standard that people hold for themselves, and that one should always seek attitudes that maximize potential. However, an important step two is seeking out an environment that will also allow you to thrive. And that is something you may have less control over, and because of that, it can be an easy scapegoat. The trick is to not get caught in the that trap, and work to either change your circumstances, or work within them, but not accept "neither" as an option. That reminds me of the old saying:
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| Quote about Serenity. Source: Flickr |
That's definitely something I struggle with in school. I'm usually pretty able to push away the "I'm not smart enough for this" thoughts, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm expected to produce correct answers in my classes. Effort doesn't get me points. I'm not rewarded more for an assignment that I persevered on and eventually figured out after 8 hours than one of my peers who did it in 2--in fact, I'm essentially punished, because that's several hours of my life that I wasn't able to spend with friends or on something more fun. Yes, it is more satisfying to work really hard on a problem and eventually get it than it to just work out the first time, but there is physically not enough time in the day for that to always be the case.
In conclusion, you should always strive for a growth mindset, but acknowledge that your environment can make holding that mindset more difficult, or less effective. After you've changed your mindset, look at what's around you, and keep close to you the things that most help you grow and thrive. And look forward to the day when you have the time to learn about something because it's interesting, not because you need a degree.
Abby
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