Awakening Growth Mindset

blacklotuscounseli
Mar 5
4 min read

Updated: Apr 12

I wanted to take a moment to discuss something I've observed in many children and adults... the concept of mindset, particularly the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and why nurturing a growth mindset can be such a transformative journey for you.

Understanding Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are static traits—we either “have it” or we don’t. Those stuck in this mindset often fear challenges, avoid tasks that feel hard, and may give up easily when faced with obstacles. On the other hand, a growth mindset is the belief that our abilities can grow and improve through effort, perseverance, and learning from mistakes.

In my work, I’ve noticed that many individuals, for various reasons, tend to fall into a fixed mindset. They may feel discouraged when something doesn’t come easily to them or believe they aren’t “good at” certain things. Shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is incredibly powerful—it opens doors to resilience, self-belief, and the understanding that challenges are opportunities for growth.

Why Is a Growth Mindset Important?

Research shows that individuals personalities and beliefs about themselves develop well into the twenties. This means childhood is a critical window for building a foundation of belief in their own potential; also throughout life, on a growth journey, personalities and beliefs may shift well beyond the twenties. Here are a few key aspects of growth mindset that can help awaken your full potential:

Embracing Challenges: Challenges aren’t something to fear—they are opportunities to grow stronger and smarter. Learning is rarely linear, and the more one faces hard things, the more resilient and capable they become.
Learning From Mistakes: Mistakes are not failures; they are stepping stones to mastery. Seeing mistakes as valuable lessons can reduce the fear of trying.
The Power of "Yet": Adding the word "yet" to the end of "I can't" is a simple but transformative shift. Instead of "I can't do this," you can say, "I can't do this yet," which keeps the door open for learning and improvement.
Celebrating Effort, Dedication, and Persistence: Praising the process rather than the outcome will show you that success comes from consistent hard work, not innate talent.
Embracing Positive Feedback: Viewing constructive feedback as a gift, rather than criticism, helps one grow without fear of judgment. Life is all about growth and balance after all.

How You Can Foster a Growth Mindset in Children:

Building a growth mindset is a journey that requires consistent practice, patience, and family support. Here are some ways you can support your child in this process:

Model Growth Mindset at Home: Share your own stories about overcoming challenges, learning from mistakes, or persisting through tough times. This shows your child that growth is a lifelong process.
Praise Effort, Not Just Outcomes: Shift the focus from “you’re so smart” to “I’m proud of how hard you worked on that.” This reinforces the idea that effort leads to improvement.
Celebrate Mistakes: Talk openly about mistakes at the dinner table and discuss what everyone learned from them. This normalizes failure as a part of learning.
Encourage Trying New Things: Support your child in stepping out of their comfort zone, whether it’s trying a new activity, hobby, or skill. Frame challenges as exciting
opportunities.
Use Growth-Oriented Language: Replace “You’re not good at this” with “You’re still learning this, and that’s okay.” Reinforce the power of “yet.”
Provide Loving, Constructive Feedback: Offer specific, positive feedback when your child puts in effort or tries something new. Let them know you believe in their ability to improve.

How You Can Foster a Growth Mindset:

A growth mindset is important because it helps people embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and believe they can improve with effort. It leads to greater resilience, motivation, and long-term success in both personal and professional life.

Reframe Failure as Feedback: Encourage viewing setbacks as opportunities to learn rather than signs of inadequacy. When something doesn’t go as planned, ask, “What can I learn from this?” instead of, “What’s wrong with me?”
Celebrate Effort Over Outcome: Praise persistence, creativity, and strategies—not just results. Recognizing effort reinforces the idea that improvement comes through dedication, not innate talent.
Use “Yet” Language: Adding “yet” to limiting beliefs shifts the mindset. For example: “I don’t understand this...yet.” This small word opens the door to possibility and continued growth.
Set Learning Goals, Not Just Performance Goals: Instead of only focusing on achievements (e.g., “I want to get a promotion”), focus on goals that promote growth (e.g., “I want to improve my leadership skills”).
Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded People: Being around others who challenge themselves and value learning can be inspiring. Seek mentors or communities that encourage curiosity, resilience, and self-improvement.
Practice Self-Compassion During Struggles: Acknowledge mistakes with kindness rather than criticism. Adults with a growth mindset don’t expect perfection—they expect progress and understand that growth includes discomfort.

Challenges Along the Way

This journey won’t always be smooth. Shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset takes time, especially if you are used to avoiding challenges or feeling stuck in self-doubt. There will be moments of frustration or resistance, and that’s okay. What matters most is staying consistent and patient through this process.

The Big Picture

The ultimate goal is to begin believing in your own potential—to show yourself that you are capable of growth, learning, and resilience. By embracing challenges, celebrating effort, and seeing mistakes as opportunities, you can build confidence and skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

I’m here to partner with you through this process. If you have any questions or would like additional resources on growth mindset, please reach out to your counselor at BLCC.