Mindset

What Is Mindset?

You see life through your own unique lens. This is your mindset – the assumptions and expectations you hold about yourself, your life, and the situations around you.

For instance, you might think that getting diagnosed with cancer would be devastating, or that starting a diet would be difficult and leave you feeling deprived. These beliefs shape your expectations, prepare you for potential challenges, and influence the choices you make based on those assumptions.

Research shows that mindsets play a significant role in determining life’s outcomes. By understanding, adapting, and shifting your mindset, you can improve your health, decrease your stress, and become more resilient to life’s challenges. It's the mental framework that determines your reality and, ultimately, the quality of your life.

The Types of Mindsets

You may have come across the terms “fixed” and “growth” mindsets, popularised by Stanford researcher Carol Dweck, Ph.D. These concepts describe how you view your ability to change, grow, and develop over time.

• Fixed Mindset: People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities, intelligence, and talents are static. You're either good at something or you're not. This mindset leads to avoiding challenges, giving up easily, and feeling threatened by others' success. For instance, if you struggle to connect with others at a social event, you might see this as proof that you're bad at socialising, leading to avoidance and anxiety.
• Growth Mindset: A growth mindset, on the other hand, embraces the idea that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort, learning, and persistence. Challenges are seen as opportunities for growth, failures are lessons, and success becomes about progress rather than perfection. If you experience social difficulties at an event, instead of internalising the problem, you might reflect on the situation and see it as an opportunity to improve your skills, not a permanent limitation.

In a fixed mindset, it can be difficult to find the motivation to address perceived weaknesses because change feels impossible, as if trying to alter something as fixed as your eye color. But with a growth mindset, perceived weaknesses become challenges to overcome—challenges that can even be enjoyable to tackle.

As Dweck explains in her book Mindset, “...as you begin to understand the fixed and growth mindsets, you will see exactly how one thing leads to another—how a belief that your qualities are carved in stone leads to a host of thoughts and actions, and how a belief that your qualities can be cultivated leads to a host of different thoughts and actions, taking you down an entirely different road.”

How to Change Your Mindset

Changing your mindset is possible, and science backs it up. While it might seem daunting, your brain is more adaptable than you think. Thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections, you can actively reshape your thinking patterns throughout life.

According to Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, changing your mindset isn’t about trying to force yourself to think differently—it’s about changing your actions first.

When you engage in new behaviours, your brain starts to form new pathways, which in turn can shift how you think and feel. For example, if you want to overcome a limiting belief, start by putting yourself in situations that challenge that belief. With time, your brain adapts to the new experience and rewires your mindset.

1. Take Action First, Thoughts Follow

Your brain is wired to respond to what you do, not just what you think. Trying to simply "think positively" won’t work unless you back it up with action. By focusing on taking new actions—whether it’s starting a new habit, taking on a challenge, or learning a new skill—you force your brain to adapt and change the way it views your capabilities.

2. Embrace Discomfort for Growth

Changing your mindset involves discomfort. The brain releases certain chemicals, like norepinephrine, when you step outside your comfort zone. This chemical helps you stay alert and focused. When you push through that discomfort, you open the door to learning and growth. Over time, this discomfort becomes less intimidating, and you’ll find it easier to embrace challenges.

3. Focus Unlocks Change

To truly shift your mindset, intense focus is necessary. When you concentrate deeply on a task or new behaviour, your brain releases acetylcholine, a chemical that marks the brain for change. But remember, this deep focus needs balance—rest and recovery are critical for solidifying these new neural pathways. Make sure to give yourself time to reflect and recharge.

4. Learn From Mistakes

Mistakes signal your brain to adjust. Each time you make an error, your brain looks for a new way to solve the problem. This is how learning happens. Instead of fearing mistakes, see them as essential tools for growth. Whether it’s in your personal life or at work, create an environment where errors are seen as part of the learning process.

5. Create a Sense of Urgency

The brain is more likely to change when there’s a sense of urgency. Deadlines, high stakes, or a clear "why" behind the change can help create the motivation needed to push through difficult transitions. Urgency signals to your brain that change is necessary, speeding up the learning process.

6. Celebrate Small Wins

To maintain momentum during mindset shifts, it’s important to break big goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Each time you reach a milestone, your brain releases dopamine, the reward chemical, which energises you to keep going. Celebrate those small wins—they’re critical for staying motivated over the long term.

7. Laughter and Positivity

Finally, remember that changing your mindset doesn’t have to be all hard work. Laughter and positive emotions can actually help your brain adapt and grow more effectively. Enjoy the process, laugh at mistakes, and don’t take things too seriously. A bit of fun can make the journey easier and more sustainable.

By understanding how your brain works, you can take concrete steps to change your mindset. It starts with action, builds with focus, and is sustained by celebrating progress along the way. With each new experience, your brain will adapt, and you’ll find yourself with a mindset that’s ready for growth.

Best Mindset Books

• Mindset by Carol Dweck

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