This concept was proposed by renowned psychologist Carol Dweck. She discovered that what determines the differences between people and their success or failure is their mindset. She believed that people have two different mindsets regarding their abilities: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
A fixed mindset holds that abilities do not change, talent is innate, and the process of growth is one of constantly proving and demonstrating one’s talents and abilities.
A growth mindset holds that a person’s talents are merely a starting point, and that intelligence and abilities can be improved through practice; as long as one puts in the effort, one can do better.
The two mindsets also lead to different responses when facing various challenges. People with a fixed mindset are more inclined to avoid challenges, believing that they are beyond their abilities and that attempting them will only lead to failure. People with a growth mindset, however, face challenges proactively, viewing them as opportunities to explore new boundaries and becoming excited by them.
The theory proposed by Dweck is intended to help us recognize the importance of mindset in growth, break free from the belief that everything is left to fate and the state of being stuck in one’s ways, and develop a positive, open, and upward-oriented mindset, thereby absorbing more and achieving growth
A growth mindset emphasizes that abilities can develop through effort, but it does not deny the importance of innate talent. Being more natural in front of others may expose your shortcomings or even your ignorance, but that is nothing to fear; it creates an opportunity to learn. From a growth mindset perspective, missing out on growth is more frightening than exposing your ignorance. With a growth mindset, failure is synonymous with gain—a bundle of experience on your road to success. When you fail or encounter setbacks, just tell yourself that this is an experience, then ask, “What have I gained from this experience?” That way, you will grow a little faster. More importantly, it will also be easier to emerge from the shadow of failure. You should not use other people as a benchmark for judging your growth, because everyone is growing, and everyone’s growth varies in pace and can even go backward. If you judge whether you are growing by looking at someone else who is also constantly changing, you may get an impression that does not match reality. You might mistake making progress together for standing still, become discouraged, and give up; or mistake someone else’s regression for your own growth and become complacent. Growth is your own matter. Other people’s progress or setbacks have nothing to do with you. You are running a marathon along your own course. Your personal best may depend on others picking up the pace and prompting you to push harder, but it also depends on consistently keeping your own rhythm.