So I've recently been learning about having a "growth mindset" vs. "fixed mindset" and I'm really excited about it. Somehow I made it through a degree in Human Development without learning about growth mindset. I did learn about praising effort, persistence and consistency instead of just telling kids how amazing they are. But this is taking that further.
"Over 30 years ago, Carol Dweck and her colleagues became interested in students' attitudes about failure. They noticed that some students rebounded while other students seemed devastated by even the smallest setbacks. After studying the behavior of thousands of children, Dr. Dweck coined the terms fixed mindset and growth mindset to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement.
Recent advances in neuroscience have shown us that the brain is far more malleable than we ever knew. Research on brain plasticity has shown how connectivity between neurons can change with experience. With practice, neural networks grow new connections, strengthen existing ones, and build insulation that speeds transmission of impulses. These neuroscientific discoveries have shown us that we can increase our neural growth by the actions we take, such as using good strategies, asking questions, practicing, and following good nutrition and sleep habits.
At the same time that these neuroscientific discoveries were gaining traction, researchers began to understand the link between mindsets and achievement. It turns out, if you believe your brain can grow, you behave differently. So the researchers asked, “Can we change mindsets? And if so, how?” This began a series of interventions and studies that prove we can indeed change a person’s mindset from fixed to growth, and when we do, it leads to increased motivation and achievement. For example, 7th graders who were taught that intelligence is malleable and shown how the brain grows with effort showed a clear increase in math grades."
I love this concept and can see that some of my thinking in recent years has shifted to a fixed mindset. Understanding the difference is helping me to identify areas of my life where I need to practice my growth mindset.
Some of the things I tell myself on a regular basis are false beliefs, and are "fixed mindset" thinking. I think I developed this was of thinking as a way to take responsibility for my actions. But I'll say things like:
"I'm just not very consistent" and I'm being hard on myself because I don't want to appear that I'm making excuses. But those kinds of statements are actually detrimental and not true really.
In growth mindset, you acknowledge the issue, but also realize that you can change and progress into the person you want to become. "I'm working on being more consistent" is different and allows for change.
So I'm trying to practice a growth mindset with my health and practice consistency. I've been having a lot of problems with my Meniere's Disease since July. At convention in September I set some goals:
Family prayer more consistently
and health goals:
1. No soda (although I've had a little on road trips to help me stay awake while driving)
2. Vitamins morning and night
3. Probiotics
4. Psyllium daily
5. Greens
6. Apple Cider Vinegar daily
7. Melissa under tongue daily
These were actually all really easy things to do.
This month I am going to work on getting to sleep at a set time and having a consistent breakfast and lunch. I am really hoping that making some of these changes will help my Meniere's issues. Stress, lack of sleep, soda, and diet are all things that are triggers with Meniere's. And gut health is something I've been learning more about and its pretty easy to take better care of my gut so the probiotics, psyllium, ACV, etc is for that.
In the past I would be frustrated with myself if I got off track and didn't jump right back into working out and eating well after an illness or vacation which would reinforce my fixed mindset thinking of "I'm just not consistent" and I'm trying to change the way I think about those little breaks. I'm looking at them as things that just are part of life. Especially a life with Meniere's Disease. But my new mantra is "I get knocked down, but I get up again" lol. Because that is literally what happens to me! Haha. I'm focusing on decreasing the time that it takes to get back into the swing of things.
