What is a Growth Mindset?

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Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can improve with effort, practice, and learning, rather than being fixed “you’ve either got it or you don’t.” It’s a way of thinking that treats mistakes and struggles as part of learning, not as proof that a person is stupid or hopeless.

Key idea

A growth mindset says “I can get better at this if I keep working at it,” instead of “I’m just bad at this.” It focuses on progress and learning over time, not on being perfect right away.

How it talks inside your head

With a growth mindset, the inner voice sounds like:

• “I can’t do this yet, but I can learn.”
• “What can I do differently next time?”
  A fixed mindset voice sounds more like: “I’ll never be able to do this,” or “If I’m not good straight away, I’m just not smart.”

Everyday examples

• Struggling with maths: a growth mindset leads to asking for help, practising more, and trying new methods, instead of giving up.
• Getting feedback: instead of feeling attacked, a growth mindset looks for the useful parts that can help you improve.

Simple ways to build a growth mindset

• Add the word “yet” to stuck thoughts: “I don’t understand this… yet.”
• Notice and praise effort, strategies, and persistence (“I worked hard and tried a new way”), not just the results.
• When something goes wrong, ask: “What can this teach me?” rather than “What’s wrong with me?”

Further Reading