Fixed and Growth mindsets are terms I was introduced to this past week. When they were explained to me I understood, identified with and realized I used them on a regular basis. However I never knew they were a categorized "thing", and that I had the power to conscientiously choose to use one or the other. For those of you who like me, may not be familiar with them, the definitions are as follows:
Fixed Mindset - Our character, intelligence, and abilities are set and innate
Growth Mindset - Our character, intelligence, and abilities are fluid and can be developed
In simpler terms, a fixed mindset is limiting while a growth mindset is limitless.
Three years ago my husband and I decided to train for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. It is a 31.1 mile race the first week of May. It was late February and I was not a runner. I mean really ... I had never run even a mile in my life. So I found a training program called "Couch to 5K" and decided to give the running thing a try at the St. Patrick's day race and started my training. I will never forget the first day of training. I had to run for one minute. I thought "this is going to be a breeze!" I mean how hard could one minute of running be? Well at 50 seconds when I was dying, and wanting to hit the "stop" button on my treadmill I found out how hard it could be. I remember watching the timer count up the seconds 50, 51, 52, "how can I be in this bad of shape?" ... 53, 54, 55, "Do I really have to do a full minute or is this close enough?" ... 56, 57, 58 "Oh my gosh I'll never be able to run a 5K (3.1 miles)" ... 59 "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this" ... 60 [slams hand on the STOP button]. "I am never going to be able to run a mini marathon if I can't even run 60 seconds without wanting to die."
That my friends is a FIXED MINDSET. "I'm not a runner", "I'll never be able to do this", etc.
However, by March 17 we ran our first 5K and while I didn't run the entire time, I ran more than I expected and finished in less than 1 hour which was my personal goal. What is interesting about this story is that in preparation for the mini marathon we decided to run 16 races in 2016 to include not one but THREE mini marathons in our city. We trained daily, ran races most weekends and really built our stamina. But the one thing I never trained was my mindset. I continued to say "I'm not a runner."
I didn't think anything about it until this past week when I learned about fixed and growth mindsets. You see while I accomplished my goal of running 16 races that included three mini marathons I continued to believe the fixed mindset that I was not a runner, and guess what happened after the 16th race?! You guessed it, my mind had overpowered 9 months of running and training and convinced me that I still was not a runner.
But I was! I was a runner! I ran every day and each race I improved my time. That is the very definition of not only a runner, but a pretty effective one. My speeds weren't fast, but I was RUNNING!
Last night as I got into bed, I was thinking about this fixed mindset and determined that I was not going to allow it to take residence in my head any longer, I went to my long unopened dresser drawer with my running clothes in it, go out pants, a shirt and socks. I then went to the closet and got my dusty but well used running shoes and put them all on the foot of my bed. I set my alarm for 1 hour earlier than usual and went to bed.
I have to admit, when the alarm went off this morning I did not want to go run. I wanted to stay in bed and relax like I had for the past three years, but I did not want to let the fixed mindset limit me any longer. So I put on my clothes and shoes, grabbed my phone, headphones and went out the door. The pace wasn't fast, and the process was challenging but I did it! I ran 1 1/4 miles straight without walking at all and I felt GREAT! Well actually, I felt exhausted, but that was GREAT! The best part is that I am still way ahead of where I was when I started training three years ago and 60 seconds was an eternity while running.
I wonder what fixed mindsets do you have that are limiting your character, intelligence and abilities? I encourage you to identify them, face them head-on, and then allow that mindset to grow to limitless potential.
Mary
Want to know more about Fixed and Growth mindsets? Read "What Having a 'Growth Mindset' Actually Means" by Carl Dweck https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means
