STUDENTS WITH FIXED AND GROWTH MINDSETS

STUDENTS WITH FIXED AND GROWTH MINDSETS

Imagine   Wembley football stadium , packed like sardines , a deafening roar ,and  Lionel Messi strides to take a spot kick. The  ball swirls like a parabola and sails into the net to the absolute  delight of thousands of delirious ManU supporters.

Messi goes on to say.” It’s  not easy for us when we play these teams who have a different mindset ,like Chelsea or Inter- Milan because they have the mindset of trying to stop us rather than playing a game that is more attractive for spectators to enjoy.”

Mindset is an established set of attitudes held by someone. It is a fixed mental attitude that predetermines a person’s responses to any interpretation of a situation.

Robert Griffin a soccer coach says,” Football is football and talent is talent. But the mindset of your team , makes all the difference.”

Mindset of students can be categorised into fixed or growth oriented mindsets.

A fixed mindset student is usually  an emotional cheerleader , who is constantly trying to regulate himself  or herself  and the way other peers view him or her. Such an individual develops into  a fixated personality , rigid in attitude and limiting the innate potential. Such a child does not realise the aura of harmony and joy around his/ her persona.

Fixed mindset students believe that talent is inborn and though confident about their potential, do not blossom or grow. They assume to be perfect and talented.  They invariably avoid challenges, are prone to avoid feedback, particularly criticism and feel threatened by the success of their fellow students. Their efforts are half-hearted and they surrender quite easily.

They refuse to have a conversation with tutors, parents or  peers and usually are unable refuse to progress beyond a certain level. Their passion and desire to learn wanes over a period of time.

 Now the twist in the tale. The human mind likes novelty and stimulation. Something unfamiliar, that unexpected element, a bit of drama and intrigue open the window of the mind to learn and excel.

Contrast Fixed Mindset students from the growth oriented ones. These are not constrained by time , space and attitudes. It is their  ability and willingness to learn  which is more pronounced than their  mere pedigree.

Such students undertake a mental SWOT analysis. They springboard on their strengths, reduce weaknesses, look for opportunities like hawks and ward off all threats.

For such students firmly believe that their abilities and skills need to be constantly honed and developed. They are willing to learn and improve.

As the mystic scholar Rumi says,” Yesterday, I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” Adaptability is the key to their success.

Such students embrace challenges, push back setbacks, believe in continuous effort, look forward to criticism and feedback to improve and are not jealous of other success stories. Infact  such stories inspire them to achieve the pinnacle.

They are more clear headed, calmer, open-minded and realise their potential. It is quite possible that such students may have been introverts at some stage in their lives, plagued by imaginary fears and negative thoughts. But by taking a hard look of their images in the mirrors of their mind, they have transform their lives. Such students have malleable minds. And that is their biggest asset.

“ Anyone can train to be a gladiator . What makes you out is having the mindset of a champion” writes life coach Man Dennet.

So students should introspect and be in pursuit of excellence and not mediocrity. Isn’t it?