Developing a Growth Mindset Is the Easiest Way to Learn

Do you have a history of starting and quitting when you fail to immediately excel? Your mindset may have become fixed over a few bad experiences that have led to destructive patterns of self-speak. Sports psychologist Gary Mack said, "While positive thinking doesn't always work, negative thinking unfortunately almost always does." A person's mindset provides the attitude needed for achievement and ultimately determines his or her success. Developing the right mindset is the easiest way to learn something new. It allows you to redefine beliefs to help you get to where you want to be. Your modified belief system then becomes your new mindset.

Are you accomplishing your goals? If "yes", read on and you'll probably recognize why. If not, try these game-changing tips:

• Find Your Self Voice - Research suggests a link between your mindset and negative stereotype threats that you believe to be true about yourself, e.g. - all the women in my family are naturally overweight.
• Don't Procrastinate - Never allow information overload to support your own procrastination. Accept the fact that only a tiny fraction of the information out there is capable of helping you move forward.
• Realize Willpower May Not Be Enough - Your mindset was formed through prior experiences and emotional milestones, so acknowledge the fact that your mindset needs an adjustment before you set new goals.
• Never Focus on Shortcomings - You never want to focus on your shortcomings, as those are limiting beliefs. How you interpret setbacks and criticism is your choice, but converting challenges into goals supports a growth mindset.
• Now is the Time to Change - Telling someone you've got it under control is a fixed mindset, whereas taking action to put forth the hard work and effort needed for achievement cultivates a growth mindset.
• Invest in a Flexible Mindset - Never expect perfection and never give yourself permission to fail. Prepare for setbacks but never give in to failure. Seek feedback, make adjustments and get back on track as quickly as possible.

Making a change in your life may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Moving from a fixed mindset to one that supports new growth allows you to shift your focus from why to what. If you spend less time beating yourself up for shortcomings, you can redirect negative energy into positive beliefs that support your tackling new challenges. Experiencing a wide range of feelings, such as disappointment or grief, is not your enemy. It's your responsibility to prevent natural emotions from turning toxic. A growth mindset allows you to see change not only happens from inside out, but also from the outside in.