Let's start by defining what a growth mindset is. So that you can understand if you have it or not and if you don't, then we can talk about some ways to develop it.

A Growth Mindset is a mindset where you think you can learn and improve everything, including your human intelligence. As we now know, we have multiple intelligence, like emotional intelligence, social intelligence, professional, financial, and even spiritual intelligence that we can always improve.

And what are we comparing the growth mindset to? We are comparing it to a fixed mindset.

A fixed mindset would say: "This is who I am, this is where my limit is, I can't improve my skills or capacity, and I cannot grow." 

When you have a growth mindset, your brain is literally plastic that you can expand it sideways, up and down, diagonal, etc. to make it grow with your expansive, provocative, and out-of-the-box thinking. I am sure you've heard about "neuroplasticity" before. It refers to the elastic structure of your brain. It's flexible, it's agile, open, and easy to shape.

And when you have a growth mindset, there are some signs that you can tell you have it. Ready?

1. YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN FAILING

In a growth mindset, there is no failing; there is only learning and growing. When you have a growth mindset, everything that happens to you, for you, and around you teaches you something. They show you ways that you can improve things.

Think about Thomas Edison, for example. Did you know he failed thousands of times before discovering the light bulb? But if you ask him, he says: "I never failed. I just discovered thousands of different ways that didn't work." This is a brilliant example of thinking with a growth mindset.

Whenever you try something new and don't get the desired result, remember you don't have to label it as a "failure". You might as well label it as a "lesson" to learn from, grow with, and do better next time, just like Thomas Edison did.

2. YOU DON'T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY

When you have a fixed mindset, you believe you have a limited capacity and can not grow. And when you are operating in life with this kind of mindset, when somebody tells you: "Hey, you could have done this one better." What are you going to do?

Remember, you don't believe you can do things better. So then, you'll take this comment personally. You'll feel sorry for not being able to do a good job. You'll also feel hopeless, helpless, and all that victim mentality traps, which is totally a behavior of a fixed mindset.

But if you have a growth mindset, you'll be like: "Oh, yes, I can totally do this better. I just need to learn how. Please tell me and teach me how." And that should be your approach if you operate with a growth mindset in life.

3. YOU FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS NOT PROBLEMS

When you have a fixed mindset, you are a part of the problem. You complain and blame and can not think of any solutions because you are stuck in the problem.

When you have a growth mindset, you are creative, open, and flexible, so you can find ways to solve a problem. And that's why you are solution oriented.

4. YOU EMPOWER OTHERS TO GROW

You empower others to grow with you when you have a growth mindset. Because you know, if you are the only one growing that might be a problem. You don't want to be the smartest in the room. You want to be among other smart, brilliant brains, #ShinyMinds in my language :)

You'll want your friends, colleagues, and network to grow with you if you have a growth mindset. Because that's the attitude of #growth, to begin with. You won't get jealous of their success or compare yourself to them and feel sorry for yourself. That's so not the attitude of a growth mindset. It's actually the attitude of a fixed and victim mindset.

All in all, if you feel in you that you want to empower others to grow, that's also a sign you have a growth mindset.

5. YOU LOOK AT LIFE AS A SCHOOL 

When you have a #growthmindset you look at life as a beautiful school to experience yourself, learn, and grow. Why? Because you know and believe that you can become more and achieve more.

I hope this video helped you, and I hope you do have a growth mindset. If not, now you know how, so you can build it! 

And please share this video with your friends so that together you and I can make this world a better place with more love ❤️ and Shiny Minds...

HUGS 🤗 

Shiny Burcu Unsal