From a fixed mindset to a growth mindset
It is crucial to cultivate a strong and healthy mindset that lays strong foundations towards learning
Published: 03:03 PM,Mar 13,2022 | EDITED : 07:03 PM,Mar 13,2022
Humans thrive on routine but can easily get bored if there isn’t any novelty. Most of us crave something new, yet are often afraid to reach out for it. This mainly stems from a fear of failure or a fear of rejection, whereby an attempt has been made in the past and was received with negativity.
In essence, our ego got wounded. We make it mean that we are not validated and what gets hurt is our self-esteem, self-worth, self-value and also our self-confidence.
Trying something new is nerve-racking. It’s uncertain. We just don’t know the outcome, so we rather shy away from even attempting it. We can easily go to the worse-case scenario: this is the brains protective mechanism of keeping us safe.
However, a bit of stress is good in order to push our minds to grow – just like with our bodies, when the muscles repair from the tearing, the body gets stronger. The same applies to our minds, the more we push ourselves, the more we will learn and expand. Please remember courage isn’t the lack of fear, it’s feeling the fear and acting in spite of it anyways.
Leaving your comfort zone means a phase of trial and error, during which success will undoubtedly occur. Experiencing success builds our self-efficacy, fueling the belief in our abilities. Failure, is however also inevitable. When we fail - and fail we will - the key is to get up again, persevere and keep on trying. Don’t allow too much time to pass before retrying, otherwise the feeling of disappointment, fear and rejection will become too engrained in your body and this feeling will govern your thoughts. It’s our uneasy relationship with fear and failure that causes us to freeze.
In our comfort zones, we feel safe, secure and in control. There are a range of routine tasks that we carry out with confidence. We know the processes that need to be followed and we know what to expect. It takes courage to move through the first zone, The Comfort Zone into the second zone, The Fear Zone.
The fear zone brings about insecurities and desire to do well often hinders our ability to push ourselves. We are very much affected by other’s opinions; our confidence gets shaken and we will easily find excuses to retract.
However, when we are able to push through the fear zone, we then enter the third zone, The Learning Zone. Here, we acquire new skills with gained ability to deal with challenges and problems resourcefully.
It’s not as scary anymore and we start getting accustomed to the new change. This is the opportunity for adventure, to be curious and take calculated risks. A productive amount of pressure will have a positive impact, without the onset of struggle nor panic.
Thereafter we enter the fourth and final zone: The Growth Zone. Here, new habits are formed. Our aspirations are no longer a dream to be thought of but a reality to be experienced. Soon, this will become your new comfort zone, expanding your ability to reach even greater heights.
In reality, the process of moving from The Comfort Zone to The Growth Zone may not be linear. Plateaus often complicate the journey. Sometimes, we even need to retreat to the comfort zone periodically before mustering the strength to leave again. Nevertheless, appreciating the steps can help in understanding uncertainty.
Intentionally leaving your comfort zone goes hand in hand with developing a growth mindset. While the fixed mindset keeps us trapped by fear of failure, the growth mindset expands the possible. It inspires us to learn and take healthy risks, leading to positive outcomes across all domains of life.
A habit of expanding our comfort zone equips us to handle change and ambiguity with more poise, which leads to resilience. To strengthen this muscle and exercise your level of comfort, I recommend doing something every day that is out of the ordinary; something that brings about some fear.
Remember change is scary at first, messy in the middle and wonderful at the end. Take the analogy of refurbishing a house. At first the house looks beaten down, the middle brings about a lot of dust, disruption and debris then suddenly there is a turning point and the house starts to take shape and looks beautiful.
It is crucial to cultivate a strong and healthy mindset that lays strong foundations towards learning. This includes seeing yourself as inherently adaptable and believing in your ability to endure fears and doubts.
Every person faces this choice, knowingly or not. You can settle for what you know: the seemingly safe, familiar routine. Or, you can become receptive to opportunities for growth, challenge your personal status quo and find out what you’re capable of.
When this becomes a habit, the benefits reaped will become exponential. Don’t let setbacks, people nor your inner critic beat you down. In turn this will allow you to reach your highest human potential and in time you will notice you have built a life fuelled by your deepest desires. What an inspiration to others you will be.
In essence, our ego got wounded. We make it mean that we are not validated and what gets hurt is our self-esteem, self-worth, self-value and also our self-confidence.
Trying something new is nerve-racking. It’s uncertain. We just don’t know the outcome, so we rather shy away from even attempting it. We can easily go to the worse-case scenario: this is the brains protective mechanism of keeping us safe.
However, a bit of stress is good in order to push our minds to grow – just like with our bodies, when the muscles repair from the tearing, the body gets stronger. The same applies to our minds, the more we push ourselves, the more we will learn and expand. Please remember courage isn’t the lack of fear, it’s feeling the fear and acting in spite of it anyways.
Leaving your comfort zone means a phase of trial and error, during which success will undoubtedly occur. Experiencing success builds our self-efficacy, fueling the belief in our abilities. Failure, is however also inevitable. When we fail - and fail we will - the key is to get up again, persevere and keep on trying. Don’t allow too much time to pass before retrying, otherwise the feeling of disappointment, fear and rejection will become too engrained in your body and this feeling will govern your thoughts. It’s our uneasy relationship with fear and failure that causes us to freeze.
In our comfort zones, we feel safe, secure and in control. There are a range of routine tasks that we carry out with confidence. We know the processes that need to be followed and we know what to expect. It takes courage to move through the first zone, The Comfort Zone into the second zone, The Fear Zone.
The fear zone brings about insecurities and desire to do well often hinders our ability to push ourselves. We are very much affected by other’s opinions; our confidence gets shaken and we will easily find excuses to retract.
However, when we are able to push through the fear zone, we then enter the third zone, The Learning Zone. Here, we acquire new skills with gained ability to deal with challenges and problems resourcefully.
It’s not as scary anymore and we start getting accustomed to the new change. This is the opportunity for adventure, to be curious and take calculated risks. A productive amount of pressure will have a positive impact, without the onset of struggle nor panic.
Thereafter we enter the fourth and final zone: The Growth Zone. Here, new habits are formed. Our aspirations are no longer a dream to be thought of but a reality to be experienced. Soon, this will become your new comfort zone, expanding your ability to reach even greater heights.
In reality, the process of moving from The Comfort Zone to The Growth Zone may not be linear. Plateaus often complicate the journey. Sometimes, we even need to retreat to the comfort zone periodically before mustering the strength to leave again. Nevertheless, appreciating the steps can help in understanding uncertainty.
Intentionally leaving your comfort zone goes hand in hand with developing a growth mindset. While the fixed mindset keeps us trapped by fear of failure, the growth mindset expands the possible. It inspires us to learn and take healthy risks, leading to positive outcomes across all domains of life.
A habit of expanding our comfort zone equips us to handle change and ambiguity with more poise, which leads to resilience. To strengthen this muscle and exercise your level of comfort, I recommend doing something every day that is out of the ordinary; something that brings about some fear.
Remember change is scary at first, messy in the middle and wonderful at the end. Take the analogy of refurbishing a house. At first the house looks beaten down, the middle brings about a lot of dust, disruption and debris then suddenly there is a turning point and the house starts to take shape and looks beautiful.
It is crucial to cultivate a strong and healthy mindset that lays strong foundations towards learning. This includes seeing yourself as inherently adaptable and believing in your ability to endure fears and doubts.
Every person faces this choice, knowingly or not. You can settle for what you know: the seemingly safe, familiar routine. Or, you can become receptive to opportunities for growth, challenge your personal status quo and find out what you’re capable of.
When this becomes a habit, the benefits reaped will become exponential. Don’t let setbacks, people nor your inner critic beat you down. In turn this will allow you to reach your highest human potential and in time you will notice you have built a life fuelled by your deepest desires. What an inspiration to others you will be.