by Lauren Louko

“Change your thoughts and you change your world” a powerful quote by Norman Vincent Peale which I often reflect upon, and find comfort in. In essence it means that each of us has the ability to create our own mindset. We can choose to have a mindset focused on failure, setbacks, and perfectionism, or we can nurture a mindset of growth, positivity, and joy. Everything we need is within us, we just need to understand how to unlock the tools needed to cultivate a new mindset.  

I’d like to introduce you to the concepts regarding two mindsets that have been developed by American psychologist Carol Dweck. Dweck is known for her work related to the mindset as a psychological component.  

These two mindsets that Dweck describes are ‘fixed’ and ‘growth’. According to Dweck those with a fixed mindset, “…believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talents instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success–without effort.” In contrast to the fixed mindset, those with a growth mindset “…believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work––brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”  

To give you a better sense of what each mindset looks like in practice, here are a few examples:  

Fixed:	Growth:
I already know all that I need to know.	I know that there is always more that I can learn.
If I don’t try, then I won’t fail.	Failures are just opportunity for growth.
I only stick to what I know.	I don’t mind trying new things. It can be exciting!
That’s just who I am, I can’t change it.	I’m a constantly evolving work in progress.
My current abilities are the measure of my outcomes.	My determination and effort are the measures of my outcomes.

You can think of each mindset as ‘freeing’ or ‘limiting’. With a fixed mindset, at the first hint of failure, a person will often shut down and nip whatever it is they are trying to achieve, in the bud. This cuts off any potential they might have to accomplish their goals in life, truly limiting their potential.

No one becomes the greatest by relying on innate talent alone.

A growth mindset allows for an understanding that things may not have worked out yet…but with hard work, dedication, and perseverance they will. The word ‘yet’ gives us the freedom to pursue our goals without fear and worry of failure.  

No one becomes the greatest by relying on innate talent alone. Think about professional athletes, while they have some innate talent, they wouldn’t get anywhere without hard work and perseverance. Another example of a growth mindset at work can be seen in Albert Einstein, while he definitely had innate intelligence, he wouldn’t have gotten anywhere in his life without being curious, having a passion for learning, and growing as much as he could in his work. These two examples, make it clear that hard work and dedication are an important part of cultivating a growth mindset. 

The same goes for you and me, we each are born with our own set of unique and special, innate abilities. Being satisfied and content with these innate abilities aligns us with a fixed mindset. To take our innate talents and to continue developing them aligns with a growth mindset. We create a love of learning and resilience that will take us to new levels in our daily lives.  

Each Nuuaria program focuses on guiding individuals in developing their full potential. Your Nuuaria mentor will be there each step of the way as you begin to foster a mindset of growth and potential. With this, you can achieve virtually any goal you have.  

There are a number of principles that serve as the foundation for developing a growth mindset. I have highlighted four that I think are important.  

1. Learn to hear your fixed mindset voice. This means being aware of the instances in which your thoughts align with a fixed mindset. For example, when you realize you are thinking “I already know all I need to know,” take a step back and reframe your thought. Awareness of the fixed mindset is the first step.  

2. Recognize that you have a choice in how you interpret challenges and setbacks. As I previously mentioned, your mindset is a choice. When challenges and setbacks come your way, make it a priority to change your perspective. I like to view challenges and setbacks as a learning opportunity, a time to develop new skills, and to continually develop old ones.  

3. Talk back to your fixed mindset voice with a growth mindset voice. After recognizing a thought aligned with a fixed mindset, as in step one, respond to it with a growth mindset thought such as, “I know there is always more to learn.”  

4. Take the growth mindset action. Ultimately, once we change our thoughts, we want to act on them. This means listening to feedback, reflecting on it, and making a change. Learn from your setbacks and try again.  

So, how can you cultivate a growth mindset, and subsequent actions? I won’t lie, it takes time and effort to change your thoughts so they align with a growth mindset. Be patient and kind with yourself. Start by taking small steps to begin your journey to a new mindset. 

I hope that by cultivating a growth mindset you find that you have the confidence to set and pursue your personal as well as professional goals.

The following are some strategies to help you develop a growth mindset:

• View challenges as opportunities; 
• Prioritize learning over seeking approval; 
• Focus on the process instead of the end result; 
• Cultivate a sense of purpose, consider the bigger picture; 
• Choose learning well over learning fast; 
• Making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re a failure; 
• Learn from the mistakes of others or ‘How can I apply this hard lesson to my own life?‘; 
• Learn to receive constructive criticism, criticism is a teachable moment, quit taking it personally; 
• Cultivate grit, have perseverance & passion for long-term goals, keep going even through adversity; 
• Set a new goal for every milestone you achieve, growth is an ongoing process, personal growth is never finished; 
• Remember it takes time to succeed in anything; 

I encourage you to believe in your own abilities, skills, and capacity for positive change. I hope that by cultivating a growth mindset you find that you have the confidence to set and pursue your personal as well as professional goals. I also hope you find it enjoyable and easier to continually learn and grow with a new perspective on how your mindset impacts your life.  

At Nuuaria, we equip you with the tools and techniques you need to align your thoughts with a growth mindset. We believe in humans changing humans, and we provide one–on–one support for your health and wellness needs. To transform your mindset and change your life, contact us when you are ready at the toll-free number or email below.