What's Your Mindset?

In my first summer of graduate school we looked at some of Carol Dweck's research about views on intelligence. She doesn't try to argue one way or another about whether our intelligence is fixed or malleable but does insist that whichever way we choose to percieve it can have profound influences. Since then I have thought a lot about how I percieve my own goals, how I speak to my children about their accomplishments (and failures), and how I work with students. I also find myself wondering if I see my talents and potential with a "fixed" or "growth" perspective.

So, I was thrilled when my friend Rekha told be that Dweck has written a "popular" version of her many years of research called "Mindset." I was already familiar with much of her research but it was interesting to see how she has combined it with the various areas of success in our modern life: relationships, sports, teaching, parenting, setting personal goals, learning, and others. It has urged me to think even more about my perceptions and encouraged me to be "purposefully engaged" in my goals and interests.

The book also led me to map out my own history in terms of fixed and/or growth attitudes. The times of my life that were most fulfilling were certainly filled with more experiences led by a growth oreinted mindset. I spent a lot of time playing basketball with friends and I alsways loved being on the "underdog" team. It meant I was more likely to lose but the game was always much more fun and a victory, when achieved, much sweeter. This also translated into some of the other decisions I made at that time such as switching schools and trying to be proactive about the social and academic opportunities that came along with that. I wouldn't want to relive my teenage years but also think that much of my fulfillment came from an attitude of growth and learning that can be achieved at any stage in life.