I have witnessed multiple conversations regarding fixed and growth mindsets. It seems like the consensus agrees that you either have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. My questions are… Doesn’t everyone have a little bit of both? Why is a fixed mindset viewed as a negative quality?
Before I delve deeper into my question I better explain the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
The focus always seems to be on, “You either have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Which one do you have?” However, I think everyone has a mixture of both mindsets and neither one is wrong to have. A growth mindset encourages one to continually step out of his/her comfort zone while a fixed mindset encourages one to work hard to better themselves. That doesn’t seem so bad does it?
One might verbalize that they have a growth mindset but their actions may prove they have a fixed mindset, or vice versa. Growth mindsets are seen as the more desirable of the two. We all think we, or strive to, have growth mindsets. That does not mean having a fixed mindset is wrong or a bad thing. There are times when I definitely have a growth mindset but for the majority of things in life I would say I am more fixed. As a teacher, I want my students to continually learn and grow. I believe that having a fixed mindset is just a stepping stone towards growth! We all have to start somewhere right!?
