Mindset is so much more than a buzzword.
At its core, it’s how we view the world around us.
OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE
What do you see when you read this?
Opportunity is nowhere?
Or:
Opportunity is now here?
Simply put, mindset is how two individuals can look at the exact same thing and see something different.
The difference may be slight, but over a longer period of time, this can manifest into two very different types of people.
How do we each become the type of person who both sees opportunities and takes them?
The Fixed Mindset
As a pupil in school, I told myself for years:
“I will never understand chemistry”.
Ultimately, I believed that it just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t my “type” of subject.
That manifested in me giving up quicker during times of challenging work.
Over time, my grades got worse.
I was creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I was much more content to stay within my comfort zone and focus on the subjects I knew in school that I was better at.
American psychologist Dr Carol Dweck coined this as a fixed mindset.
Rather than someone being inherently positive or negative.
To be clear, someone with a fixed mindset can still have flexibility in their thinking.
The example Dweck gives us is that of a dog tied to a post.
It can still move around within a limited space.
However, it’s fundamentally fixed to an area it can only stray a few yards from.
Similarly, an individual with a fixed mindset usually believes they can get a little better at things and make some changes.
However, they also firmly believe that they will always remain near the origin point in terms of their skills and abilities.
The Growth Mindset
This mindset says: “I’m unable to do this now, but I can learn”.
People with a growth mindset see failure as a learning opportunity.
If a situation works out differently from how you planned it, use it as an opportunity to grow.
Make adjustments and try, try and try again.
That’s growth mindset in action.
Which Mindset do you want?
Mindset affects how you approach work, relationships, exercise, diet, personal projects and home life.
So, how much could cultivating the best mindset be of value to you?
My favourite thing about mindset is that it is a choice we can all make.
A choice to see the opportunity in everything that we do and interact with.
It’ll take time, but here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Embrace challenges
Instead of avoiding difficult tasks, tackle them head-on.
A growth mindset sees challenges as opportunities to learn.
So, next time you’re faced with something tough, think:
“This might be hard, but I’ll get better by doing it.”
2. Learn from criticism
When someone offers feedback, see it as valuable input that helps you improve.
Constructive criticism is like a map guiding you toward improvement.
Ask yourself:
“What can I learn from this?”
3. Celebrate effort
The growth mindset values effort over perfection.
So, if you put in the work— even if things go wrong — celebrate that effort.
It’s the foundation of progress.
Remember:
“Practice makes progress.”
4. Challenge your self-talk
Replace phrases like: “I can’t do this.”
With: “I’m still learning.”
Small tweaks in how you speak to yourself can change how you approach challenges.
Remind yourself that skills and abilities are developed rather than fixed.
In the end, mindset can function as the steering wheel of your life.
It’ll help you avoid veering off course and steer you towards the version of yourself you’re striving for.
So when life throws an inevitable curveball, remember: how you see it can make all the difference.
Mindset: The key to surviving (and winning) life’s challenges
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Photos in Mindset: The key to surviving (and winning) life’s challenges by Pink Elephant Communications.
Mindset: The key to surviving (and winning) life’s challenges was written by Dee Bleakley and edited by Maxine Montgomery.
