How To Develop A Growth Mindset For Weight Loss- And Beyond!
A growth mindset thrives on challenges and sees failure as a springboard for growth and for stretching our abilities. A fixed mindset is based on a belief that our personality and qualities are carved in stone, leaving us with a desire to “prove” ourselves over and over. Therefore, it could be said that someone with a “growth” mindset is focused on “growing”; someone with a “fixed” mindset is focused on “proving” or “justifying” themselves, fearing that they may appear or feel deficient in some way.
People who are focused on growing, believe their basic qualities are being cultivated through the efforts they put into life. They know everyone can grow through application and experience. They know the hand they’re dealt with is just the starting point for development. When people have a fixed mindset, imperfections are shameful, so they’re never willing to stretch themselves. People with a fixed mindset view effort as something that makes up for lack of talent or intelligence; people with a growth mindset know the effort is what makes you smart and talented. People with a growth mindset have a hunger for learning while people with a fixed mindset have a hunger for approval.
So, what does this have to do with reaching and maintaining a weight we love? It has to do with our willingness to learn. The weight loss journey is all about learning. It’s about learning about ourselves and how to manage our minds and our emotions. It’s about learning to make appropriate choices in behavior based on what we want to create in our future. It’s about learning to plan and problem solve. It’s about learning to constrain and focus our energy. These are skills and they take effort and practice. You will be richer when you reach your goal because of the effort you’ve put into the process and everything you’ve learned as a result of that effort.
20 Simple Guidelines To Develop A Growth Mindset:
Acknowledge and embrace imperfections.
View challenges as opportunities for growth.
Research brain plasticity
Replace “failing” with “learning”.
Stop seeking approval.
Value the process over the end result.
Keep your purpose in mind.
Celebrate the growth of others.
Emphasize growth over speed.
Reward actions, not traits.
Remember that “genius” takes effort.
Embrace criticism.
Embrace “room for improvement”.
Reflect on what you’re learning each day.
Reward yourself for hard work.
Focus on training your brain.
Cultivate grit.
Seek approval from yourself.
Learn from other people’s mistakes.
Own your attitude.