Unknowingly, we are constantly fed messages that shape the way we see, value, judge, and treat ourselves. These messages are a pivotal part of becoming who we are and they allow us to take advantage of opportunities in life. This life-course changing task is something we rarely do, because it requires us to develop a safe space where we can evaluate ourselves and reflect on our thoughts and behaviors. Additionally, stopping to figure out how the thoughts and ideas influence the way we interpret our world seems counterproductive in a culture that values fast and easy results. Stopping to evaluate ourselves also means that we have to challenge the habits we’ve created throughout the course of our lives, which in turn challenges our thoughts, interactions, and everyday behaviors.
Carol Dweck, a Stanford Social Psychologist, refers to the narrative habits as mindsets and classifies them in two ways: fixed mindsets and growth mindsets. Fixed mindsets are particularly dominant because they make us feel good about ourselves by rigidly focusing on and highlighting our strengths and completely covering up our flaws. We, as humans, hate to look at ourselves and see anything less than perfection, even when those flaws could be detrimental to others around us. It pressures us to take on easy tasks which achieve that feel good sensation of productivity. It also puts us in a very limited, closed mindset of “I am the way I am, and there’s nothing that can change that”. While this may seem harmless, it can actually be toxic for our potential. The fixed mindset locks us into a fear of failure and stops us from stepping out of comfort zones to experience new things. With these harsh consequences, we are on a constant quest to prove ourselves because there is no room for growth.
However, embracing a growth mindset means that we constantly challenge ourselves. It leads us to believe that none of our skills and traits are fixed, which means we can develop them further. Mistakes and errors are not tied to our self-worth, so they aren’t detrimental to the way we treat ourselves. Instead, we see them as learning experiences which makes us more likely to seize opportunities and accept challenges that arise over the course of our college or career years. This particular narrative allows us to truly see ourselves. It makes us embrace our strengths, while also accepting our flaws as opportunities to initiate growth. They makes us more likely to experiment with new patterns of lifestyles and behaviors—a flexibility that is absolutely necessary to thrive in life; and, to see our potentials with the lens of curiosity in order carry ourselves to a better version of who we currently are.
As someone who has implemented a growth mindset or “open mind” in my college years, I can say it has been the best experience I could’ve ever had. It’s caused me to take chances I wouldn’t have ordinarily taken and discover some amazing strengths I didn’t know I possessed. I’ve also failed and learned lessons that have not only changed my thinking, but have changed the way I look at the world. While college is supposed to be new and fun and exciting, it’s also a time to learn. Bottom line: try everything. Don’t let your fear of failure define who you are and don’t be afraid to step out and do things other deem impossible. In taking that chance, you could unlock your greatest moment.