Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset Examples - Big Life Journal

A fixed mindset means you believe intelligence, talent, and other qualities are innate and unchangeable. If you're not good at something, ... Signin close We'vesentyouanemailwithalinktoupdateyourpassword. Apasswordresetemailhasbeensenttotheemailaddressonfileforyouraccount,butmaytakeseveralminutestoshowupinyourinbox.Pleasewaitatleast10minutesbeforeattemptinganotherreset. Emailaddress* Password* Lostyourpassword? FirstName LastName Emailaddress* Password* Lostyourpassword?Pleaseenteryouremailaddress.Youwillreceivealinktocreateanewpasswordviaemail. Emailaddress Cancel Noaccountyet? Registeringforthissiteallowsyoutoaccessyourorderstatusandhistory.Justfillinthefieldsbelow,andwe’llgetanewaccountsetupforyouinnotime.Wewillonlyaskyouforinformationnecessarytomakethepurchaseprocessfasterandeasier. CreateanAccount Login Search JournalsPrintablesParentingTweens&teensForadultsBlogContact SGD USD CAD AUD DKK HKD JPY NZD SGD Shoppingcart close Noproductsinthecart. Afixedmindsetmeansyoubelieveintelligence,talent,andotherqualitiesareinnateandunchangeable.Ifyou’renotgoodatsomething,youtypicallythinkyouwillneverbegoodatit.Bycontrast,agrowthmindsetmeansyoubelieveintelligenceandtalentcanbedevelopedwithpracticeandeffort.Notsurprisingly,yourmindsetplaysamajorroleinyourmotivation,resilience,andachievement. Whilemanypeoplearefamiliarwiththesedefinitions,theyaresometimesunsureexactlyhowtoputtheseconceptsintodailypractice.Whatdogrowthmindsetbeliefsandlanguagelookandsoundlike?Howcanyoureplaceafixedmindsetbeliefwithahealthiergrowthmindsetbelief?Explainingthedifferencetochildrencanalsobeatrickytask. Readthroughthefixedmindsetvs.growthmindsetexamplesbelowforclarity,thensharewithyourchildrenorstudentstohelpthemunderstandthedifference. YoucanalsocheckoutourFixedMindsetversusGrowthMindsetquiz! Beforeyoucontinue,wethoughtyoumightliketodownloadourFREEYourWordsMatterVolume2Kit.Withthese10one-pageparentingguides,youwillknowexactlyhowtospeaktoyourchildtohelpthemstandupforthemselves,bemoreconfident,anddevelopagrowthmindset. 15FixedMindsetvs.GrowthMindsetExamples Wehavedividedthesefixedmindsetvs.growthmindsetexamplesintothreecategories:IdentityandSelf-Improvement,ComparingtoOthers,and LearningSomethingNew. Manypeoplehavespecificfixedmindsettriggers,likecomparisonsortoughchallenges.Dosomeofthe fixedmindset examplessoundfamiliar?Theymayhelpyouidentifythetriggersofyourchildrenorstudents,andhelpyouworktogethertoimprove.Witheachexample,you’llfindahelpfultipforsupportingtheshiftfromfixedmindsettogrowthmindset. ExamplesofIdentityandSelf-Improvement Example1: FixedMindset:I’meithergoodatsomethingorI’mnot. GrowthMindset:Icanimprovemyskillswitheffortandpractice. Tip:Askchildreniftheyhaveeverstruggledtomasteraskill,andthenimprovedovertime.Examplesmayincludereading,writingneatly,ridingabike,orplayinganinstrument.Youcanalsoprovideexamplesfromyourownlifeorthelivesoffamouspeople.Childrenwillseeclearevidencethatnoonestartsoutasanexpertandtheyarecapableofimprovement. Example2: FixedMindset:Whenpeoplegivemefeedback,itfeelslikecriticism. GrowthMindset:Iappreciatewhenpeoplegivemefeedback.Ithelpsmelearnandgrow. Tip:Considermakingfeedbackatwo-wayconversationinyourclassroom.Onstudents’writing,forexample,askthemtoreplytoyourcommentswithacommentsaying,“Ilearned_____________.”Alternatively,providestudentswithawaytoimmediatelyimplementthefeedbacktheyreceive.Thismakesiteasiertolinkfeedbackwithprogressandgrowth. Whetherathomeorintheclassroom,askforfeedbackinadditiontoprovidingit(e.g.,“HowcouldIhavemadethatlessonbetter?”or,“IsthereanythingIcandotosupportyoumore?”).Modelgracefullyacceptingandlearningfromfeedback. Example3: FixedMindset:I’mjustnotgoodat math. GrowthMindset:Mathischallengingforme,butIknowIcanimprove. Tip:Ifachildstruggleswithaspecificsubjectatschool,provideextrasupportandtrackprogress.Parentscancollaboratewiththechild’steacherandlookforeducationalresourcesonlineorin-person.Asthechild’sgradesimprove,emphasizehowfartheyhavecome.Celebratetheirhardworkandprogressandcontinuetoencouragethebeliefthatthereisalwaysroomtolearnandgrow. Example4: FixedMindset:I’mtooshytospeakinfrontoftheclass. GrowthMindset:Withpractice,Icanbecomemoreconfidentandimprovemypublicspeakingskills. Tip:Whenchildrenexpressaspecificconcern,ask,“Whatstepscanwetaketoworkonthat?”Ifthechildisunsure,helpthembrainstorm. Forexample,achildwhofearsspeakinginfrontoflargegroupscanfirstpracticewithpartnersorinasmallgroupsetting.Theycangainpublicspeakingexperienceinafunway,likeimprovordramaclasses.Asalways,celebrateincrementalprogressandremindthechildofhowfartheyhavecome. Example5: FixedMindset:I’malreadyareallygoodwriter.Idon’tneedtogetanybetter. GrowthMindset:There’salwaysroomforimprovement. Tip:Ifachildexcelsinasubject,makesuretheyarebeingchallengedenough.Childrenwhohavemasteredgrade-levelskillswithouthavinganopportunitytomovebeyondgrade-levelmayfeelimprovementisn’tpossible. Withyoungwriters,forinstance,youcanencouragethemtoexpandtheirvocabularyorbeginincorporatingfigurativelanguageintotheirwork.Askthemtowriteparagraphsinsteadofjustasentence,orhavethementerlocalwritingcompetitions.Parentscanintroduceadditionalenrichmentexperiences. Ifyouneedadditionalsupportandideasaroundyourchild'sidentityandself-improvement,checkoutour“HowtoTransformYourChild’sNegativeSelf-TalkIntoSelf-Love” one-of-a-kindmasterclass.Inthison-demandprogramforparentsandcaregivers,you'lllearnwhyyourchildhasnegativeself-talkandeffectivepracticestohelpthemturnitintoself-love. Examplesof ComparingSelftoOthers Example6: FixedMindset:Peoplewhoarenaturallysmartdon’tneedtotryhardtosucceed. GrowthMindset:Nooneisbornsmart.Wecanallimprovewithtime,effort,andpersistence. Tip:Giveexamplesofpeopleconsideredgeniuseswhohadtoputtimeandeffortintotheirachievements.Forexample,ThomasEdison’steachersthoughthewas“toostupidtolearn.”Hewasfiredfromhisfirsttwojobsandhemadethousandsofunsuccessfulattemptsatinventingthelightbulbbeforesucceeding.Edisonwasn’tbornagenius;heovercameobstacles,persisted,andworkedhardforhisintellectualsuccesses. Example7: FixedMindset:Otherpeople’ssuccessesmakemefeelbadaboutmyself. GrowthMindset:Otherpeople’ssuccessesencourageandinspireme.Theyshowmewhatispossible. Tip: Whenchildrenfeeldiscouragedbyanotherperson’ssuccesses,teachthemtoask,“Howdidthispersongetthere?”Whenweseesomeone’ssuccess,weareonlyseeingthetipoftheiceberg.Wedon’tknowwhatis“underthewater,”oralltherejection,failure,effort,persistence,andlearningthatwentintotheirachievements. Ifyouneedsometipsonhowtoencourageagrowthmindsetinyourchild,don'tforgettodownloadourfreeYourWordsMatterKitVol.2 Example8: FixedMindset:Successfulpeoplearelucky/talentedandhaveneverexperiencedfailure. GrowthMindset:Failureispartofsuccess.Mostsuccessfulpeoplehavefailedmanytimes,buttheysucceededbecausetheydidn’tquit. Tip:It’simportanttoteachchildrenfailureispartofeverysuccessstory.Thepeoplewhosucceedaren’ttheoneswhomagicallygotitrightthefirsttime;theyaretheoneswhofailedandkepttryinganyway. FamousexamplesincludeMichaelJordan,SteveJobs,OprahWinfrey,WaltDisney,StevenSpielberg,andmanymore.Ifthesenamesdon’tresonatewithchildren,askthemtonameasuccessfulpersontheyadmire,thenresearchthefailuresandobstaclestheyhadtoovercome. Example9: FixedMindset:IwishIwasasgoodatbaseballasyou.It’snotfair. GrowthMindset:Yourskillsasabaseballplayerinspireme.Doyouhaveanytipstohelpmeimprove? Tip:Encouragechildrentoaskthemselves,“WhatcanIlearnfromthisperson?”whentheyseesomeoneelsesucceeding.Asmentionedabove,theycanalsoask,“Howdidthispersongetthere?”Fromafellowbaseballplayer,forexample,childrencanlearnbothspecifictechniquesandinformationaboutthetrainingandhoursofpracticethatcontributedtotheirsuccess. Wecanviewotherpeople’ssuccessstoriesasinspiringblueprints”ratherthancondemnationsofourownabilities.Whentheopportunityarises,modelthismindsetforyourchildrenorstudents. Examplesof LearningSomethingNew Example10: FixedMindset:It’sembarrassingwhenImakeamistake. GrowthMindset:Everyonemakesmistakesandmistakesareopportunitiestolearn. Tip:Trycelebratingmistakeswithanactionand/orphraselike,“Highfive,you’relearning!”Consistentlyconnectingmistakeswithlearningwillhelpchildrenshifttheirmindset.Whenyoumakemistakes,verballyacknowledgethemandthinkoutloudaboutwhatyoulearnedfromtheexperience. Example11: FixedMindset:IfIdon’ttryneworhardthings,thenIwon’tfail. GrowthMindset:Ihavetotrynewanddifficultthingsinordertogrow,evenifIfailatfirst. Tip:Ask,“Whatwouldhappenifyounevertryanythingnew?”Makealistofallthefoods,experiences,movies,andhobbiesyourchildrenorstudentswouldneverhavediscoverediftheyhadn’ttry. Discussskillsthathavebecomesecondnature,likeridingabike,butwereoncedifficultorevenscary.Ifwetrytoavoidfailure,wealsomissoutonmuchofthejoy,excitement,andgrowthlifehastooffer. Example12: FixedMindset:WhenIfail,Igetfrustratedandgiveup. GrowthMindset:WhenIfailorgetfrustrated,ItryagainusingthelessonsI’velearned. Tip:WhenSarahBlakely,thebillionairefounderofSpanx,wasgrowingup,herfatherledweekly dinnertableconversationsaboutfailure.Heaskedhischildrenwhattheyhadfailedatthatweek,thenhigh-fivedthemandsaid,“Waytogo!”Inadditiontocelebratinghischildren’sefforts,hetoldthemtowritedownthe“hiddengifts”theygotoutofeachfailureandthelessonstheyhadlearned. Blakelysaidthisreframedherdefinitionoffailureto“nottrying,”versusanundesirableoutcome.Tryimplementingasimilarritualatyourfamilydinnersorinsmallgroupsinyourclassroom. Example13: FixedMindset:Failuremeansitistimetogiveup. GrowthMindset:IonlytrulyfailwhenIstoptrying. Tip:WhatifThomasEdisonhadstoppedtryingtoinventthelightbulbafterthefirstfailedexperiment—oreventhefirst500?WhatifOprahWinfrey,SteveJobs,orWaltDisneyhaddecidedtheywerefailuresaftergettingfiredfromearlyjobs?OrifStevenSpielbergandMichaelJordanhadgivenupmoviesandbasketballafterexperiencingrejection?Thesefailuresweren’treallyfailuresafterallbecausetheydidn’tgiveup. Example14: FixedMindset:Ican’tdothat! GrowthMindset:Ican’tdothatyet.I’mgoingtokeepgoing,trynewstrategies,and/oraskforhelpuntilIunderstandit. Tip:Teachchildrenaboutthepowerof“yet.”Whentheysaytheydon’tknowhowtodosomething,remindthemtheysimplydon’tknowhowtodoityet. Brainstormalistofalternativeschildrencanrefertowhentheyfeellikegivingup.Forinstance,theycanaskafriendforhelp,askateacherforhelp,researchontheInternetorinatextbook,ortryanewstrategy.Askchildrentochooseafavoritefromthelist,thenfillintheblankinthefollowingsentencestarter:“NexttimeIgetstuck,Iwill_________________.” Example15: FixedMindset:IfIdon’timproverightaway,Igetfrustrated.Istarttocriticizemyself. GrowthMindset:IknowimprovementtakestimeandIcelebratethesmallsteps.Evenalittleprogressmakesadifference! Tip:Whetheryouareathomeorintheclassroom,alwaysemphasizetheprocessovertheoutcome.Celebrateeffort,newideas,bouncingbackfromfailureandmistakes,andsoon.Learningisaprocessandanongoingjourneyandeverychild’sgoalshouldbetotakestepstowardimprovementeveryday.Whentheytakethosesteps,recognizeandencouragetheirefforts.Meanwhile,usetheothertipslistedheretoshiftchildren’smindsetsaroundfailuresandhelpthemtransformnegativeself-talk.   Thesefixedmindsetvs.growthmindsetexampleswillhelpyouandyourchildrenorstudentsnotonlyunderstandthedifference,butalsoputthesepowerfulconceptsintopractice.Considerwritingyourfavoritegrowthmindsetexamplesonsentencestripsandhangingthemonabulletinboardasadailyreminder. Lookingforadditional resources?Havealookatour growthmindsetjournal.Asthechildreninyourlifedevelopthismindset,you’llnoticeahugedifferenceintheirconfidence,motivation,andresilience! Sharethispost: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin PreviousPostNextPost LeaveaReplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked* Comment* Name* Email* EmailAddress* FirstName* LastName Interests Ages4-11 Ages12+ NewPrintable EmailAddress* FirstName* LastName Interests Ages4-11 Ages12+ GuidePrintable FOLLOWUSONINSTAGRAM