Humans are social animal and need people around for survival. The beauty of God’s creation is every individual is different and unique. The thing that makes it possible is the mindset. It is a common practice that we distinguish people through their mindset. It is important to understand what mindset means. Mindset isn’t just beliefs. They are belief that orients our reactions and tendencies. They serve a number of cognitive functions. They let us frame the situation, they direct our attention to most important areas so that we’re not overwhelmed with information. They suggest sensible goals so that we know what we should be trying to achieve. They prime us with reasonable courses of action so that we don’t have to puzzle out what to do. When our mindset becomes habitual they define who we are and who we can become.
People have various mindsets but can be broadly divided into two categories- Fixed and growth mindset.
People with fixed mindset have a set of rules and patterns to view people, situation and circumstances which is very dear to them. Somewhere they start believing that it is the only truth and lives life according to this mindset. They are not open to new ideas or views and perceptions. Their mindset governs their personal and professional life in a fixed and rigid diameter. They believe their traits are given. They have certain amount of brains and talents and nothing can change them. They worry about their traits and how adequate they are. The fixed mindset creates an urgency to prove themselves over and over, prove in classroom, career and relationship. Every situation calls for confirmation of their intelligence, personality or character. Every situation is evaluated. Will I succeed or fail, look smart or dumb, will I be accepted or rejected. This leads to stagnation and insecurity. In spite of numerous possibilities and opportunities they stay in the comfort zone. They shut themselves in a fixed parameter and expect growth and a different life which is not possible and thus get upset.
The growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way in their initial talent, aptitude, interest or temperament. Everyone can change and grow through application and experience. This mindset creates passion for learning. They believe why waste time proving over and over how great you are when you can be better. Why hide deficiencies instead of overcoming them. Why look for people who shore up your self esteem instead of one who will also challenge you to grow. Why to settle for tried and tested instead of the experiences that will stretch you. The passion for stretching yourself and stretching to it even when it is not going well is the hall mark of the growth mindset. This mindset allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times of their life.
At one point of time it is healthy to realize what kind of mindset you have. The good news is you can switch from fixed to growth mindset. The process seems to be challenging but it is worth going through. It is a fact that at times people do have both fixed and growth mindset, fixed mindset on certain issue and growth on other issues. The need is to observe whether it benefits you or you need to change to upgrade self.
In this developing and modernizing era whatever mindset you carry one doesn’t want to be judged or given any instruction or suggestions. The exposure and information avaibilities is so high and at the finger tips that people think they know everything and are right. The notion that “THIS IS WHAT I AM” is spoken louder. It is great to see specially the teens to be confident about themselves and their work. One thing is of concern when you don’t allow people to judge you and offer some suggestions, you remain in the platform you created. Judgments when take adversely hits your self esteem and you are angry and upset. When they are taken positively you get insights of the areas you might have overlooked while working on self and situation. It is healthy. It points the exact area that needs to be worked on which might be keeping you away from success or slowing down your success. It won’t demine you but help you to progress. How much smart, intelligent, talented you are but there is always a room for improvement. Let the judgment, criticism and suggestions be the tools for your mindset which can lead you in the path of achievement and success.
