Wow! I can’t believe that a year is almost over! The first piece of this chapter on page 175, Carol Dweck’s quote “The path to a growth mindset is a journey, not a proclamation.” really rings true for me! I am really finding that maintaining a growth mindset includes a lot of self-talk and listening to  my growth mindset conscience as opposed to the fixed mindset “devil” that keeps popping up when things get tough.

Although I have not yet thought up a name for my fixed mindset monster, I can really see how that might be beneficial-it is so much easier to visualize something with a name. You would also have “someone” to tell to go away! “Buzz off Bossy Bessy! I am going to try this hard task anyways!” is a lot better than sitting there and listening to your fixed and growth mindsets battling for the win.

The Growth Mindset Plan found on pages 180-181 is a great way to help get oneself organized and started on the move to growth. Something I would like to learn to do this summer is to crochet or knit, I am not too picky! I would like to be able to create a hat to donate to premie babies or to cancer patients-or both! My goal is to have at least one of these done by the end of the summer holidays. The resources I will need to accomplish this goal include yarn, either knitting needles or a crochet hook and definitely lessons of one kind or another-online or in person at the makerspace in town. Some barriers to my learning might include not having enough time to sit down and have a lesson, getting the supplies (knitting needles or crochet hook), not having a pattern for the hat, and even choosing which one I actually what to learn! I will overcome these barriers by purchasing either a crochet hook or knitting needles the next time I am down island, or maybe they have them in Port Hardy, I already have some yarn. I can also search for tutorials on YouTube while I wait for a class to become available at the Makerspace. If I make a mistake I am sure they will show me how to fix it within the tutorial or the lesson. It’s not a big deal, because I know that mistakes in crocheting and knitting are common and it is easy to go back to repair.

Figuring out my triggers for a fixed mindset is a little more challenging. I can definitely tell you my triggers for frustration-maybe frustration is one of my biggest triggers.

What are your triggers for a fixed mindset?

Do you have a plan to learn something new? Please share!