Chapter 1: A New Scene
8
Part of developing a growth mindset is to change the way we are thinking and flip some notions upside down. Those with a growth mindset see failures as opportunities to learn and improve and can change negative self-talk into positive affirmations to help themselves keep going through challenges.
Viewing Failure as an Opportunity
Viewing failure as an opportunity to learn is a vital part of having a growth mindset. Let’s consider the fact that failure is a very natural part of the human experience and how it can lead to great success!
We learn much more from failure than we do from success. Take, for example, a baby girl learning to walk. First, she will push herself up and maybe hold on to a hand or furniture to steady herself, but she is going to fall before she begins to make any solid steps. She gets back up and keeps trying … and falling. In fact, research (Adolph et al., 2012) shows that babies learn to walk by learning how to fall. When they master how to fall, they are much more successful at learning how to walk. Yet, it is not often thought that a baby is failing because they are falling when learning how to walk. Just like when we are learning any new skill (riding a bike, beating a level on a video game, trying a new recipe, using new technology), we are not considered to be failing because we aren’t doing it perfectly.
Let’s take a look at some popular failures that led to great success.
Developing a Growth Mindset
How can we develop a growth mindset that is primed to embrace change and new opportunities?
Video: 4 Steps to Developing a Growth Mindset
Watch the video 4 Steps to Developing a Growth Mindset [3:54] from Quality Insolvency Services Ltd.
Activity: Growth Mindset
Complete the activity on growth mindset by typing your response to the prompt in the space provided.
