Fixed thinking vs. Growth thinking
Be very quiet. Listen carefully. To yourself.
Sometimes, you may hear yourself tell yourself about the way it will never be, the things you could never do, the problems you will never overcome. Difficult circumstances may have existed for so long that it seems impossible to think outside of it. You may have become so familiar with this voice, that you don’t even register its comments as strange.
So first, listen. What negative messages are you telling yourself? Think of a challenge, then reflect on what self talk emerges as your mind rolls over these dilemmas. Now you are ready for the pushback exercise. It might go something like this:
I am worn out. No. I simply need to recharge my batteries. So, I will take a break, take a nap, or have a healthy snack. Then, I will re-engage for 20 minutes.
Or, I’ll never get out of this situation. Wait a minute. This is not a life sentence. I may not be entirely sure of all the steps, but I do know a few right things to do. I will call James. He has gone through this, and if he can get through it, so can I, one step at a time.
Push back. Don’t let yourself get away with fixed thinking. As you change your mind and take action, you grow. You can grow today in any area of life.
You’re not stuck. Don’t give up! Keep going, lean in, and do the pushback exercise!
Worth Repeating
A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.
-Colin Powell
