Growth vs. Fixed: Mindsets and how they Shape our Lives 

Growth vs. Fixed: Mindsets and how they Shape our Lives 

Michelle Matthias

It is a fact that the way we think affects how we feel and essentially our lives. The way we think about our intellect and talents and abilities not only affects the way we feel but can also affect what we achieve and how we develop new skills.

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University was the first to describe the growth mindset. In her ground-breaking research, Dweck investigated why some people fail and others succeed. 

A growth mindset means that you believe your intelligence and talents can be developed over time, whereas, a fixed mindset means that you believe intelligence is fixed—so if you’re not good at something, you might believe that you’ll never be good at it. 

Simply put, a growth mindset means that people believe their intelligence and talents can be improved through effort and actions. They also recognize that setbacks are a necessary part of the learning process and that setbacks can also serve to motivate since they are oftentimes temporary and changeable. A growth mindset is crucial for learning, resilience, motivation, and performance.

A fixed-minded person usually avoids challenges in life, gives up easily, and becomes intimidated or threatened by the success of other people because they see intelligence as who you ‘are’ and not a talent that can be developed.

Below is a diagram from Mindset Health that captures the summary of Dweck’s study;

So in a nutshell, a growth mindset is associated with a positive outlook on growth and accomplishments and a fixed mindset is more associated with a negative outlook that sees hindrances and limitations based on our abilities and intelligence.

Am I in full agreement? Yes, totally. To segue and possibly go off tangent, I do respect and agree with the findings and science behind the study, but I also believe that from a faith/spiritual perspective (which the study does not address), it is okay to have both mindsets – without a negative connotation being associated with the fixed mindset. I embrace a growth mindset in my life and Christian walk, however, I have a fixed mindset when it comes to reasoning about who God is. This might be unrelatable to some but it is significant to me. So my mindset is fixed about who God is but in my walk and worship and my life I do embrace a growth mindset.

Most importantly, each day that we live should be approached with a mindset of gratitude, curiosity, goals to be achieved, kindness to self and others, patience and possibilities, focus, and the willingness to grow beyond preconceived limits.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. – Ephesians 3:20-21

Sometimes you will have to take a detour but you will still get there; standing at the blockage gets you no further – Michelle Matthias