Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset
When you are thinking about your mindset, there is a lot to consider. Not only are there positive and negative attitudes toward people, things, and situations, but there are two very distinct mindsets: fixed and growth. It is possible to have one or the other, but most people have both, yet lean a little more toward fixed or a little more toward growth. This is important to understand because it might be keeping you from achieving optimal self-
improvement.
Fixed Mindset
The first type of mindset to learn about is called a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is one where your thoughts, feelings, and personality traits are those that are mostly unchanging. There isn’t much room for growth here because you can tend to have your set mindset about different aspects of life.
A good example is looking at success in people. Someone with a growth mindset might see potential in learning and developing skills to be successful, while someone with a fixed mindset looks at it more like you were born with a talent that is going to make you successful.
Growth Mindset
As you might have guessed, the growth mindset is the complete opposite. This is the person who believes you can keep growing and changing with the right amount of effort and tools. Your intelligence is not something that is fixed or set in stone.
If you put in the work and gain more experience, you can achieve success and actually change your fundamental traits and talents. This is the person who can start anywhere and with any level of talent, and still achieve success by continuing to work hard towards their goals.
Can You Be Both?
Looking at these definitions, you might see one as better than the other, or perhaps you are definitely a fixed or growth mindset. There are a few important things to keep in mind. For one thing, one is not necessarily better or worse than the other, it just might keep you from achieving your full potential.
Another important aspect of the fixed vs growth mindset is that it is not uncommon to have a little of both.
Perhaps you believe that you shouldn’t try as hard at something because you have a slight fixed mindset that is keeping you from gaining enough confidence to try, but there is a part of you that still wants to learn. In this instance, you have a primarily fixed mindset and just need to nurture the growth mindset part of your brain.
Examples of Positive Word Swaps
Below are 38 positive word swaps you can start implementing today to help you nurture a growth mindset.
| SWAP | WITH |
| I am anxious | I am curious |
| I am failing | I am learning |
| I am worried | I am hopeful |
| I am stuck | I am challenged |
| I am trying | I am testing |
| I can’t | I am choosing not to |
| I am overwhelmed | I am taking it one step at a time |
| I don’t know how to do this | Let me research how to do this |
| I am stressed | I am excited |
| I am scared | I am courageous |
| I give in | I make a compromise |
| I hate | I don’t enjoy |
| I am gullible | I am trusting |
| I am behind | I am catching up |
| I am stupid | I am still learning |
| I am bored | I am taking a break |
| I am lonely | I am independent |
| I am lacking | I am working on this |
| I feel like a burden | I need some help |
| I am lost | I am exploring |
| I regret | I learned from this experience |
| I need to be perfect | I am human |
| I don’t have time | It’s not a priority for me |
| I am stuck | I am making progress |
| I give up | I’ll try again later |
| I am confused | I am curious |
| I doubt myself | I believe in myself |
| I am not good enough | I am doing my best |
| I am frustrated | I am committed |
| I feel guilty | I made a mistake |
| I am just not good at this | I am still learning |
| I should | I could |
| I will never be able | I am capable |
| I am unlucky | grateful |
| I am always behind | I am proud of my progress |
| I am stuck in the past | I am open to new possibilities |
| My thoughts control me | I am in control of my thoughts |
| I am always unhappy | I choose happiness |
