With the new school year imminently upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my insights on how to increase your chances for a successful year. I struggled to think of what to discuss first; Should it be organization and executive functioning? A back to school checklist? And then my four-year-old daughter reminded me of what I believe to be one of the most important factors that can determine the success of students, and well, people in general. You see, when introducing a new activity to my daughter, her first inclination was that she couldn’t “do it”. Even after one attempt, she had given up, believing that her inability was fixed. She needed to be convinced to try again, to learn from her first attempt and that eventually she would be able to achieve her goal. What I am discussing is the ability to rebound, or as Carol Dweck describes, the ability to develop a Growth Mindset. The problem is that this skill is often overlooked by students (and families) or brushed aside as something that is innate and unchangeable. But this thought is not correct. People can develop a growth mindset and from my encounters with students (and teachers), the ones who do, are ultimately much more successful and happier in life.
So how do you do this? How do you train yourself to view outcomes as learning opportunities? How do you look at failures as the blueprints for success? You start by asking the right questions of your children and then hope that they start asking these questions of themselves. In my daughter’s case, she simply thought “I am not good at this” and gave up. Instead, she should be asking “what can I do differently to improve” or “what can I learn from the first attempt”. If a student in your class gets an A on a test and you get a C, instead of thinking that they are smart and you are not, consider how you can learn from them and apply that learning. Instead of fixating on the mistakes you make, acknowledge that mistakes help you learn. Instead of being okay with a B+, start asking “is this my best work?” I could go on and on with these types of examples, but ultimately a mindset shift is possible. It is not something you either have or do not. It is something you can develop. Starting off the school year with a growth mindset or at least with the focus on developing it, will undoubtedly improve your academics and more importantly, your outlook, happiness and fulfillment. When in doubt, Carol Dweck highlights a simple three letter word that everyone should remember when developing their growth mindset – “YET”. Add this word to the end of every doubt you have and you will create a future that is full of optimism and untapped potential.
“I can’t understand this mathematics problem...YET”
“I can’t swim…YET”
“I can’t understand Shakespeare…YET”
You can change your mindset and grow your intelligence. Do not avoid obstacles, do not give up easily, understand that mastery takes time, learn from feedback, and learn from the greatness of others around you. If you do this, I promise that you will see a change in your life. This year will undoubtedly include many obstacles, it is how you approach these setbacks that will determine your success or failure. Begin developing a growth mindset today and you are one step closer to a future in which you flourish.
If you need any help developing a growth mindset, contact Best Fit Educational Consulting at info@guidingyourfuture.com, follow us on Twitter @educationalfit or visit our website at www.guidingyoufuture.com.
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