A mindset is a set of self-perceptions or beliefs that people hold about themselves, which determine their behavior, outlook, and mental attitude. For example, believing that you are either "intelligent" or "unintelligent". Carol Dweck, a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, has identified two mindsets.
Fixed Mindset: "I'm either good at something or I'm not."
Growth Mindset: "I can improve my skills with effort and practice."
You can ask children if they have ever struggled to master a skill and then improved over time. Examples may include reading, writing neatly, riding a bike, or playing an instrument.
I was confronted with one of my fixed mindsets when I was invited to take a surfing lesson in Baja recently. I immediately rejected the invitation because I was 81, had never surfed in my life, and knew I would look foolish. I finally relented and went with the group. I may have looked foolish and clumsy, but I had so much fun. It was a breakthrough in not taking myself so seriously.
I've been struggling with another mindset for many years that has recently emerged in my consciousness with enough clarity to articulate it. "If I can't do it well, I'm not going to do it at all."
That mindset has kept me from writing, even though I had many thoughts and observations that I wanted to share with others. But I can't do anything well that I haven't done before, so I decided to approach writing like I approached surfing. Just do it. Have fun, try something new, and enjoy the experience.
I'm grateful to the people who have subscribed to this blog. You encourage me to keep practicing and learning. I get that little dopamine hit when I see that people are actually reading what I write.
I second Margaret’s comments. Keep writing, Pat!
I truly enjoy the relevant data and personal growth experiences in your clips; that are always interesting. You light shines on moments that might be incidental; but, you artistically reveal the golden aspect.