Growth Mindset Examples

It's easy to feel like our fate is set in stone. Maybe you were born into a family of intellectuals but feel like you're the black sheep, or perhaps you've been told all your life that you often lack creativity. These labels and expectations that have been hammered into our brains can limit what we believe we're capable of and even push us into a constant state of doubt‐if we let it get to us.

Over time, we develop that little voice in the back of our heads that holds us back from pursuing bigger and better things. But there's a way to muffle that voice, and that's by adopting what's called a "growth mindset."

The concept of a growth mindset might sound like just another corporate platitude used in motivational speaking, but it's something that can actually apply to our everyday lives. It's also by no means a novel term, either, as mindset has been studied as early as the 1980s and 1990s.

If we break down the term into halves, we can see that one part is the "mindset," which encompasses how we feel, what we value, and how we generally see the world. The other part of the term is "growth" which is defined as "the process of developing physically, mentally, or spiritually." In tandem, a growth mindset would then mean approaching our lives with the idea that we can develop our abilities through our own tenacity.

Defining Growth vs. Fixed Mindset

While we have the growth mindset on one end of the spectrum, there's a looming enemy on the other: the fixed mindset. Although we want to strive to adopt a growth mindset, let's not forget that it's virtually impossible for humans to have a pure growth mindset. We naturally experience moments of imposter syndrome, self‐doubt, fear of failure, and other more negative tendencies that may pop up once in a while.

An example of a growth mindset might look like someone who is willing to push through tough emotions and intrusive thoughts to reach a lucrative end goal. Let's take someone who is taking on a challenging project at work, even though they frequently struggle in comparison to their colleagues, if they lean into a growth mindset, they'd be willing to persist, ask for guidance, and embrace the challenge despite the potential fears of failure.

In contrast, someone with a fixed mindset might instantly feel like the road ahead of them is too tough and quickly give up. They sink into feelings of defeat and are less open to feedback, believing that their lack of inherent abilities is the be‐all and end‐all.

Regardless of whether you're navigating a personal goal or professional challenge, a growth mindset is something that will guide you toward success‐whatever that looks like to you. Even though embracing this approach can mean feeling uncomfortable to some degree, the outcomes could lead to incredible developments. Staying stagnant and reveling in comfortability can be nice on occasion, but it's often in these uncomfortable scenarios that real transformation happens. Actively choosing a growth mindset could lead to:

Advancements in your career
A stronger ability to bounce back
Seeing change as an opportunity and not as a threat
A more positive attitude
Developments in your abilities and intelligence

Common Fixed Mindset Thoughts and Behaviors

Got five minutes before your next meeting? Sit in your car, pop on some tunes, and just breathe. Focus on the music, let it wash over you, and notice how your mind starts to calm.

“I’m just not good at ___.”
“I’ve tried already.”
“Feedback is just criticism in the end.”
“But what if I fail?”
“I’m not as good as they are.”
“If I do badly, it means I’m not capable.”

All these thoughts and behaviors are prime examples of a fixed mindset. Whether they've got to do with innate abilities, comparing yourself to others, feeling like you've reached your full potential already, and avoiding the possibility of negative feelings are all indications that you're succumbing to a fixed mindset‐and we don't want that now, do we?

The Impact of a Fixed Mindset on Personal Growth

The reason why we want to avoid surrendering to a fixed mindset is because, ultimately, it holds us back. But let's not disregard the importance of a safe space either, because staying in our comfort zone can definitely feel cozy sometimes. Losing ourselves too much into it, though, and we miss out on all those glowing opportunities to grow and learn.

Knowing and understanding the growth mindset is one thing, but seeing it in action will make it a lot more tangible. Let's take a look at a couple of growth mindset examples so you know exactly what you're in for when you start implementing it into your own life.

Personal Development

The way we determine how our lives play out all depends on ourselves. It's like the cliché saying, "It's not about what happens to you; it's how you respond to it." Choosing growth mindset thinking can make us more ready for anything that life throws at us. So, let's go over a personal development tip for self‐improvement.

All these thoughts and behaviors are prime examples of a fixed mindset. Whether they've got to do with innate abilities, comparing yourself to others, feeling like you've reached your full potential already, and avoiding the possibility of negative feelings are all indications that you're succumbing to a fixed mindset‐and we don't want that now, do we?

There are typically two major aspects to personal development: pushing ourselves to learn new skills and overcoming tough challenges. When we attempt new things, whether it's running long distances, learning a new instrument, or trying to speak a new language, chances are that progress won't be linear or speedy. Embrace every aspect of the process, including the mistakes, frustration, disappointment, and everything else that comes with the journey.

Professional Growth

All these thoughts and behaviors are prime examples of a fixed mindset. Whether they've got to do with innate abilities, comparing yourself to others, feeling like you've reached your full potential already, and avoiding the possibility of negative feelings are all indications that you're succumbing to a fixed mindset‐and we don't want that now, do we?

Starting her career on the Disney Channel, she faced the challenges of breaking away from the child star image. Embracing a growth mindset, she pushed beyond those boundaries, taking on more complex roles, such as in the acclaimed series Euphoria, and establishing herself as a powerful figure in the entertainment industry. Her ability to evolve, adapt, and seize new opportunities has made her a role model for young professionals everywhere.

Education and Parenting

With any behaviors and thought processes, the earlier these habits are instilled in us, the better success we typically see in the future. Children should stay curious, adventurous, and ambitious, and feel as though they have the ability to pursue what they love. Teachers, parents, and guardians should start by modeling a growth mindset themselves, and encourage persistence and hard work. This could take the form of helping them set goals, framing mistakes as learning opportunities, and pushing critical thinking.

Shifting from Fixed to Growth Mindset Statements

Even something as simple as shifting the language you use when that fixed mindset starts to creep up can do wonders. If we take a couple of those examples from earlier:

“I’m just not good at ___.”
Reframe:
“I’m not good at ___ just yet, but with effort and lots of practice, I could definitely improve in a few weeks' time.”

“Feedback is just criticism in the end.”
Reframe:
“If I truly revisit that feedback properly, I can see that it could help me improve.”

“But what if I fail?”
Reframe:
“What if I succeed and come out better on the other side?”

“If I do badly, it means I’m not capable.”
Reframe:
“If I do badly, I should see it as an opportunity to see what went wrong and make improvements in the future.”

Shifting from Fixed to Growth Mindset Statements

And, of course, there are also plenty of awesome affirmations to bolster a growth mindset.

“Every mistake I make is a chance to grow”
“I have full control over my own destiny.”
“I will never be perfect, but I can continue to improve.”
“My thoughts will shape my reality”
“My fears shouldn't be surrounding failure; they should be focused on not trying.”

Embrace Challenges and Learn from Failure

We’ve mentioned time and time again about using setbacks as stepping stones, but what’s the course of action?

Break down those big challenges into more manageable chunks so you can reward yourself at each milestone.
Use affirmations and language shifts to shift your view.
It’s okay to feel the emotions that come with failure, but also take the time to reflect and see what you could do differently next time.
Learn from others and welcome constructive criticism.

Focus on Effort Over Talent

Watching someone who’s naturally talented at something breeze through the process can feel extremely discouraging‐but putting your energy into comparisons won’t do you any good. Shifting your entire focus inward and working on your tenacity and persistence is what will get you to where you want to be.

Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Cultivating a growth mindset takes practice, which means as long as you commit to growing, you’ve got a chance to make consistent and meaningful progress. The key? Embrace everything that comes your way‐learning opportunities, chances to adapt, mentorship, challenges, and more. For example, you might want to learn some leadership development strategies through a workshop to improve your performance at your job.

Even when we’re not in high‐pressure situations or have to be "on," there are areas and moments in daily life where a growth mindset could make a difference.

Daily Practices to Reinforce a Growth Mindset

Take even just a few minutes out of your day to reflect through journaling, clear your mind with mindfulness exercises, or even start your own personalized reflective practice. These seemingly small but consistent activities will solidify your commitment to a growth mindset.

Building a Supportive Environment

Ever heard those sayings that claim you become the people you spend the most time around? Energies are a real thing, and surrounding yourself with growth‐minded individuals versus fixed‐minded individuals is sure to affect your own mindset. Pay close attention to your environment and actively be in the company of positive and uplifting people.