Whispering in Wonderland | By Alicia Izzo

Are you living with a fixed mindset vs growth mindset? No matter which mindset you have, it’s how they shape our lives. Everything we do and will achieve in life starts with our mindset.

Fixed mindset vs growth

Let’s start with the basics. With a fixed mindset, a person believes their skills and traits are fixed and cannot change. They believe they aren’t capable of changing or doing more. Because of this belief they won’t strive to challenge themselves or go further. They believe they are only capable of what they already know.

In a growth mindset, a person believes they have unlimited ability to learn and achieve more. They believe they can do anything they set their mind to. They’re willing to go the extra distance and put in the time and effort to do so.

By design, those with a fixed mindset won’t achieve new growth. They do this because they’ve convinced themselves they aren’t capable of more.

Those with a growth mindset are continuously challenging themselves to do more. They do this because they understand they are capable of doing more. They’ll look at everything as an opportunity instead of a challenge.

Example scenario of a fixed mindset – my personal story

When I was in middle school I was bullied. I was the new kid in class (and again, it was middle school) so I was an easy target.

I actually believed I wasn’t smart or capable of learning new things because of the way I was treated. My grades were a direct reflection of this. I stopped putting in the time to try because I believed I couldn’t do any better.

This stayed with me for years and manifested in a way where I boxed myself in. As I got into the working world I believed I was only capable of having certain jobs. I thought I couldn’t do more. I thought I couldn’t have more. I thought I couldn’t live out my dream of a non traditional job, while impacting others lives for the better.

I saw people living a life I wanted to live but believed it wasn’t possible for me so my life remained stagnant.

It’s interesting because I got several promotions at work over the years, but rarely in jobs I wanted.

I felt this extreme anxiety, frustration and pull on my heart. I couldn’t understand why I felt this way.

Example scenario of a growth mindset – my personal story

Through some major life trajectory changing events, I made the decision to reevaluate everything in my life. I put all my cards on the table and decided enough was enough.

The human brain is an incredibly beautiful, tortuous organ. It forced me to really take a hard look at everything in my life. This in turn, allowed me to no longer accept things that weren’t serving me.

After this, I decided to look at life as an opportunity for change. I welcomed new opportunities because I refused to lived the scripted life I had before. I decided to start listening to my inner whispers, rather than pushing them down.

While it was certainly difficult at times, I approached everything with an open mind. In the past I was quick to turn something down because of my fixed mindset.

I said yes to new relationships, new opportunities and new experiences. My life blossomed. It started to turn into everything I always imagined and dreamed of.

I put in the hard work. I went from a fixed mindset of telling myself I wasn’t capable, to a growth mindset, believing I was made for more.

Tips on how to shift from a fixed mindset to growth

If this message resonates with you and you’re struggling with a fixed mindset, here are some tips:

Acknowledge imperfections and view them as opportunities for change
Stop seeking approval from others
Make a list of what you don’t love about your life then write one small action you can take to change them. (Baby steps, my friend)
Celebrate moments of change
Redefine the word “failure” into an opportunity to learn
Strive for making an effort instead of shutting down
Make a new goal every time you accomplish an old one

Summary

A fixed mindset stops you from living to your fullest potential. A growth mindset welcomes new opportunities for achieving more. Which mindset do you choose? What is one thing you can do today to nurture a growth mindset?

Are you feeling stuck? Let me help you. You are not alone. Let’s create a plan together to remove barriers in your life and get you unstuck and into the life you were made to live. Connect with me to start taking action and changing your life today!

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