I’m getting ready to give a Growth Mindset presentation at
work. I believe in the concepts of
growth and fixed mindsets (read “Mindset:
The New Psychology of Success” by Dr. Carol Dweck) because I have experienced
the benefits of changing my own mindset throughout my life and career.
Sometimes my change in mindset was instantaneous when I
heard powerful words that pierced my heart and caused me to make a decision to change
my attitude and approach to something (see my “Words Matter” blogpost dated 4/29/17). Other times I have identified a deep seated
mindset by doing a personal mindset inventory, and I have planned my strategy
and set goals to change my mindset in a particular area of my life (see my “Mindset”
blogpost dated 6/28/16).
I’ve heard some people call growth mindset “fluff” and they
ridicule the whole idea of mindset and the possibility of changing it. They don’t want to change their mindset, yet
they are the people who need it the most!
They see the “fluff” and they miss the practical side that can make a real
difference in their lives.
The risk of ignoring “growth mindset” is staying in a
stagnant, defeated (fixed) mindset and eventually living with regret for missed
opportunities. I believe we can be
stagnant even in our success because we can become too comfortable and stop
trying to improve. In contrast, a growth
mindset will help us to see possibilities instead of problems and propel us to
take advantage of opportunities for improvement in our lives. A growth mindset can take us places we never
thought we would or could go!
I think sometimes we limit ourselves by dreaming dreams that
are too small. I am inspired by people
who follow big dreams and goals, who overcome the impossible simply because
they believed it to be possible! My
favorite movies are all true stories of people who accomplished great things. What do they have in common? They
turned problems and challenges into possibilities! They persevered until they achieved success! If you want to be inspired, watch one or more
of my favorite movies: (1) Apollo 13, (2) Miracle (the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey
Team), (3) Rudy (the young man who dreamed of playing football for Notre Dame),
(4) Hidden Figures, and (5) Sound of Music (yes, Maria had a growth mindset…
remember “Raindrops on Roses”?).
God has given me the opportunity to talk about growth mindset. I pray that I can help inspire people to grow
their mindset the way I have been inspired.
I also pray that God will help me to make the presentation very
practical and helpful, with strategies that can actually help change fixed
mindsets.
A growth mindset can change your life and your career for
the better, in ways that you never thought would be possible. How do you know unless you try? So, dream big, and implement strategies and
set goals to achieve success, and you’ll see it’s not just fluff!
Devotion
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
Prayer:
Lord, I believe you want your children to grow, and not stay stagnant
and defeated. I pray that you will help
us to improve and set goals and achieve success in our lives! Our hearts hold the dreams you have planted
in us, and I pray that you will help each of us to reach beyond our limitations
and achieve those dreams. As I prepare
to give the growth mindset presentation, please give me the words and the inspiration I need
to speak beyond the “fluff” and get to the heart of the practical reality of achieving
what you want to accomplish in our lives, which is so much more than we think we can accomplish! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
© 2018 Linda Lijewski
