Why You Must Adopt a Growth Mindset

I took some time over the weekend to refresh myself on what it means to have a "Growth Mindset."  If you are not familiar with what a Growth Mindset is, here is a definition, "Growth mindset describes a way of viewing challenges and setbacks. People who have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with certain skills, their abilities aren't set in stone. They think that with work, their skills can improve over time."

At it's core, a Growth Mindset is all about getting better and improving and realizing that you can control your effort and focus more than anything else.  So, for example, if you are not good at something, it's not because you aren't capable of being good at it, but more of a lack of effort and focus on it.  

I have always thought that "anything can be learned."  But the key comes down to how big of a desire you have to learn it.  For example, if you want to become a rocket scientist, you can do it.  It will take massive effort and focus over time, but it is possible.  You will stumble and not understand things are times, but that means you are actually pushing your brain to learn which is growing your capability.  That the essence of Growth Mindset.  The struggles and stresses you go through actually help you level up if you keep at it.  

Ironically, this is pretty much the message of the book, Think and Grow Rick by Napoleon Hill written almost a century ago.  He stated that "whatever a man can conceiver, he can achieve."  But the key was desire - you have to want it bad enough so that you are willing to put the effort in to get it.  

So, how about you?  Are there things you have shied away from because you thought that your capabilities weren't there to be good at them?  What if you started putting your best effort forward and focusing?  Where could you be in a month?  6 months?  A year?  

Remember, you can control your focus and your effort and using these will help you to grow in the areas of your choosing if you desire it enough.  And if you truly want to succeed and level up, you must do so.