Talent alone can make you successful in your area of expertise. Who among you agrees to that statement?
Well, let us find out if the statement is convincingly true.
Today, I will write about the two opposite mindsets that we can embrace. These are the fixed and the growth mindsets. I will try to differentiate the two by stating several ideas about the two mindsets.
First, how does the two mindsets react with failure and setbacks?
From the fixed mindset perspective, failure becomes his identity instead of treating it as an event separate from him. The scores and ratings define his worth. This is what happened to the two college students from Batangas who committed suicide because of failing grades. A mechanical engineering student at Batangas State University, named Daveson Beron left a cellphone message of apology to his parents and siblings for failing to graduate and having been a disappointment to them. He also wrote a one-sentence statement in his laptop saying: "I'm sorry, I quit."
The growth mindset too feels that failure can be utterly devastating but he sees to it that it does not define his worth. He treats it as a painful event, a problem to be dealt with and learn from. He realizes that he has a choice and he choose not to let the failure or setback make the better of him, instead, he treated it as a stepping stone to become a better person, not committing the same mistake again in the future.
One very important figure that we can make as an example for this is Michael Jordan. His story is extraordinary. It might come as a shock, but the man who became what many would call the best basketball player of all time didn't make his high school basketball team. But it did not stop him from pursuing his dream and he worked harder to be better in the next try.
Furthermore, the fail of failure paralyzes the fixed mindset. Because of this fear, he stays in his comfort zone and does not dare to try. He is afraid that others might label him as no good when he tries to do his thing and fails.
But the growth mindset thinks that the only way to grow and succeed is to try and fail forward. He sees to it that his comfort zone does not confine him from achieving his dreams.
