GROWTH MINDSET

People who have a growth mindset view their failures as learning curves, obstacles in their path as opportunities, and they consider themselves a creative work in progress. A growth mindset can keep you motivated, working toward your goals and builds perseverance.  People with a growth mindset believe that if they put in effort and try, they can improve their abilities, skills and intelligence. Examples of growth mindset:

• “I will try harder next time and get better at this” and “I may not have done as good as I hoped, but I will learn and improve”
• Doing bad on a test, and getting extra help or studying harder to improve next time
• Not making the team but practicing to try out again next time

What is a fixed mindset?

People with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities, skills and intelligence are unchangeable and fixed.  Examples of fixed mindset

• "No matter how hard I try I won’t be good enough” and “there's no point in trying, I have already failed”
• Not getting the answers right on an assignment and giving up
• Not making a sports team and not trying out again
• Not getting a job and giving up looking for jobs

Below are some tips that can start you on your journey to a growth mindset:

1. Change your words from negative self-talk to positive self-talk. People with a fixed mindset use negative self-talk.
2. One way to start using more positive self-talk is to add “yet” at the end of things. Example: "I am not great at math-yet."  "I do not understand the work- yet."
3. Replacing your can’ts with cans.
4. See struggle and failure as positives to learn.

Ways to promote a growth mindset in your teens:

1. Teach them about neuroplasticity, which is when your brain creates new neurons and pathways. This will help them understand that the brain can adapt to its environment and change. 
2. Promote Grit: grit is having long-term goals and having the determination and motivation to work hard to achieve those goals.
3. Give your kids praise for their efforts. Telling them that even if things did not work out how they had hoped, that it was great that they tried.
4. Reinforce and model replacing negative self-talk with positive self-talk. Model your growth mindset with your words and your own effort.
5. It can be helpful to list out your goals, and break them down into smaller steps to reach your goal. Focus on the baby steps so it seems less scary and intimidating to try and achieve big goals.
6. Making a vision board is a good way of doing this.