Dweck (2017) suggests that learning is not merely about exerting effort but also about conquering challenges—an approach she defines as the growth mindset. This mindset revolves around the understanding that your beliefs about your abilities profoundly impact the learning process. A key component of a growth mindset is identifying that mistakes and setbacks are fundamental to growth. You may not always succeed immediately, but how you confront and address these challenges shapes your ability to acquire new skills over time. This approach highlights the idea that intellectual abilities are not fixed traits, as they can be developed through effort, perseverance, and the right strategies.
A growth mindset fosters resilience by encouraging you to embrace challenges instead of avoiding them. When you accept that setbacks are part of the learning journey, you are more likely to approach difficulties with persistence and optimism, rather than discouragement (Aditomo, 2015). Mistakes are reframed not as failures but as essential learning experiences that allow you to refine your approach. Through this lens, effort and perseverance are seen as crucial to improving your abilities. With this mindset, you become more willing to take risks, tackle difficult tasks, and engage deeply with complex problems, knowing that these challenges will ultimately lead to progress.
A growth mindset strengthens your internal locus of control, the belief that you have the power to influence the outcomes of your actions through your efforts (Nallapothula et al, 2020). When you hold a growth mindset, you are more likely to see yourself as in control of your development. Rather than attributing success or failure to external factors such as innate talent or luck, you recognise that your actions, mindset, and effort determine your success. This leads to greater resilience, as you internalise the belief that setbacks are temporary and that you can always improve through perseverance.
This mindset contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals may view intelligence and abilities as static. People with a fixed mindset are more likely to become discouraged when faced with challenges, interpreting setbacks as signs of permanent inadequacy. This can lead to learned helplessness, where the individual feels unable to influence their success (Hayes, Doucet and Bedi, 2021). The cycle of learned helplessness often results in avoidance of difficult tasks and a failure to engage with constructive feedback.
To foster a growth mindset and build resilience, you could consider the following strategies:
Rethink challenges and setbacks: See them not as failures but as opportunities for learning and growth. This shift in perspective helps you view challenges as essential stepping stones in your development rather than as barriers.
Welcome difficult tasks: Rather than avoiding tasks that seem beyond your current capabilities, welcome them as chances to push yourself and expand your abilities. Embrace the discomfort that comes with pushing your limits.
Engage deeply with the subject matter: Ask meaningful questions that prompt you to think critically and explore new ideas. The deeper you engage with the content, the more you will learn and the more likely you are to retain that knowledge.
View feedback as a tool for growth: Rather than seeing feedback as a judgment on your abilities, embrace it as an opportunity to identify areas of improvement. Constructive criticism is a vital tool in helping you refine your skills.
Reflect regularly on your learning: Set aside time to evaluate your progress. Reflecting on what worked, what did not, and looking at how you can improve next time, enables you to continuously evolve (see the reflection section of this guide).
Celebrate achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Recognising your growth not only boosts motivation but also reinforces the idea that effort leads to improvement.
By implementing these strategies, you encourage a growth mindset that develops your resilience in the face of adversity. Your internal locus of control strengthens, as you realise that your actions and decisions, rather than external circumstances, determine your ability to succeed. Over time, this approach fosters a deeper sense of self-efficacy, meaning you come to believe in your capacity to achieve your goals through persistence and effort, which is supported by the application of learned strategies. It is with a growth mindset that you will be able to persevere through difficult times, ultimately achieving long-term success.
References
Aditomo, A. (2015) ‘Students’ response to academic setback: “Growth mindset” as a buffer against demotivation’, International Journal of Educational Psychology, 4(2), pp. 198-222.
Dweck, C. S. (2017) Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential. London: Robinson.
Hayes, S., Doucet, D. and Bedi, R. P. (2021) ‘University students who overcame learned helplessness: What helped or hindered?’, Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 55(3), pp. 334-362.
Nallapothula, D., Lozano, J. B., Han, S., Herrera, C., Sayson, H. W., Levis-Fitzgerald, M. and Maloy, J. (2020) ‘M-LoCUS: A scalable intervention enhances growth mindset and internal locus of control in undergraduate students in STEM’, Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 21(2). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v21i2.1987
