Recently, I have been reflecting a lot on my response to failure. Similar to some people, I don’t like it. More and more I have been contemplating how I respond to it and I have been examining whether I try to avoid it. I’m arguably from the generation that solely rewarded innate abilities or outcomes which research now states leads to a fixed mindset. I also watched a video recently that said that millennials just want recognition and praise for what they do. Do I fall into this category?
In addition to this, I am currently in the process of making a huge life decision and in the midst of it, I am examining my intentions and actions. Am I running away from my failures? This particular decision may not be me running away from things I have struggled to achieve, but could end up being another thing I’m unable to see through if I falter in dealing with this enigma we title failure.
If I’m honest about my reflections, I realise that in many areas of my life, I try and avoid failure. Why? My limited psychology experience screams that it is because I have a fixed mindset. Often times, I don’t try - just in case I fail. I don’t pursue - just in case I fail. I don’t step out - just in case I fail.
A fixed mindset has been described as viewing our traits as unchangeable and avoiding activities if success is not guaranteed. Focusing on our failures and possible failures, research says, leads to a fixed mindset. But, what happens when your failures scream louder than your wins? How can we but focus on our failures?
In fact, allowing ourselves to focus on our achievements helps to develop a growth mindset. One of the life changing things I learnt at university, is that our brains have the ability to change and adapt, so we don’t have to be stuck in a particular way of thinking. It has taken the discomfort of my introspection to remind me of this and explore how to develop a growth mindset. I am forced to ask myself how am I shaping my brain and question what am I doing to reinforce positive pathways?
So how do you cultivate a growth mindset? Some ways I have found include:
Focus on learning
Persevere through challenges
Value and take the time to learn from feedback
Learn from the achievements of others
Make time to develop on your skills
See setbacks as opportunities to grow
So as I follow through with this new risk I have taken, I will be working on adopting a growth mindset and develop on how I respond to things if they do not go according to plan. As Nelson Mandela said, we never lose, we either win or learn.
“What if I fail?”
“Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”
Erin Hanson
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