What's a Mindset?

A few years ago, I realized a huge gap in my personal and professional growth.  Friends.  Or rather a dedicated time with friends. 

I invited some women whom I admire and I considered dear friends to meet once a week to work on our mission, goals, growth and accountability.  A group I could be brutally honest and where I would be unconditionally accepted and respected.

It has been a powerful force in my life!  In fact, I began to take it for granted.  Before long, I jumped in to independent coaching and contracting which ushered in old insecurities and I looked to my group for grounding and perspective.

The book we have chosen to read is "Mindset" by Carol Dweck.  While I have read this book before, reading and reflection within a group, makes it completely different.  

Our group met, set and pushed forward on goals.  This process of accountability shoved me up against a very large brick wall.  I made adjustments and promptly ran right in to the same wall.  Over and over again.

What is the deal?  What is MY DEAL?

Putting on my investigator hat, I began to explore what kept me and so many like me, from meeting the goals and the mission of our lives?

For one thing, I became wrapped up in meeting the goal, instead of growing to the goal.  In addition, I compared my accomplishments to others which viciously led to, "What is wrong with me?"

The mindset book has been an engine in the process in moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.  What are the mindsets?

Dr. Carol Dweck stated, "the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.  It can demonstrate whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value."

The fixed mindset is the belief our qualities are carved in stone.  Dr. Dweck continues, "The fixed mindset creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over. Every situated is evaluated: Will I succeed or fail?  Will I look smart or dumb?  Will I be accepted or rejected?  Will I feel like a winner or loser?" (Dweck, Carol, 2006 p. 6)

On the other hand, we can create a growth mindset.  Again Dr. Dweck states, "A fixed mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.  The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.  This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives."

That's it!  My mindset was a brick wall!