What if you could improve?
Shift your mindset toward growth and possibility.
Believing that abilities are fixed or can grow shapes your actions and the path your life takes. Those who believe they can grow persist in their efforts, tackle challenges constructively, and learn from setbacks. Over time, this builds stronger skills, higher achievement, and choices aligned with personal values. So consider this:
🤔 What if I could improve?
Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset
A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities are fixed and cannot improve. People with this mindset see failure as proof of their limits and take it personally. Setbacks discourage them, and effort seems like a sign of limited ability. They hide mistakes out of shame, avoid asking for help to not appear incompetent, and compare themselves to people who do worse to feel better.
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can improve through effort and learning. People with this mindset see failure as a learning opportunity and do not take it personally. Setbacks motivate them, and effort is seen as a path to growth. They treat mistakes as opportunities for growth, ask for help as part of learning, and compare themselves to people who do better to adopt their strategies and improve.
Developing abilities is like lifting weights: practice builds strength over time.
Steps to shift your mindset
Mindset shifts gradually through awareness, effort, and daily practice. Strengthen a growth mindset with these steps:
👉 Name fixed-mindset thoughts after a judgmental real or fictional character, like “Harry” or “Grumpy.” Thank them for trying to protect you, then act on growth-oriented thoughts.
👉 Add “yet” to limiting statements like “I can’t do this… yet” to remind yourself that skills grow with practice.
👉 Watch for words like “always” or “never” that suggest something can’t change, such as “I’ll never get better at this” or “I always mess things up.”
👉 Avoid labeling yourself or others with terms like “bad writer” or “failure,” which suggest a fixed identity. Focus on progress, not labels.
Start today
Believing that abilities can grow changes how life unfolds. Start your first mindset shift today: pick one practice and try it.
