Growth Mindset

“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine

The idea of growth mindset is that the hand we are dealt is merely a starting point.

One in which requires you to ask yourself, where will you go from here?

This mindset is based on the belief that basic qualities are things that can all be cultivated and grown.

Dr. Carol Dweck in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, “Although people may differ in every which way – in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests or personalities – everyone can change and grow through application and experience.”

With this type of mindset any challenges are viewed with excitement, as an opportunity to overcome, became you know you will get something out of the process.

Sarah Montana is someone who embodies this growth mindset, someone we can all look to for inspiration. She has faced many obstacles in life which could have devoured her, things which could have crushed her. She refused to let these things define her, and instead used them as moments that shaped her.

She says that, “things shape and change you, but YOU decide who you’re going to be. Can’t control what happens to YOU, but you decide what it means.”

Will you be a victim or a survivor?

I’d like to be like Sarah. Since people always tell their own stories best, hers.

We are all facing a hardship right now. Some are experiencing this differently, more acutely, but we are all facing the same obstacle.

With this obstacle comes opportunity, an opportunity to grow, to change.

While there are many things outside of our control, we friend, we get to decide how we are going to react and what it means to us. .

As a high school English teacher I, along with my colleagues, have had to immediately adjust – overnight – what we do and how we meet the needs of our students, their parents, and even our community.

Not only have teachers transitioned to preparing, delivering, and offering feedback on learning opportunities online, but schools are ensuring that students have breakfast and lunches delivered, access to technology and internet, and teachers are individually reaching out to all students to see what it is we can do to help with any needs that arise.

A good friend of mine is using this current obstacle to explore a career path she’s always wanted to pursue, but was prevented to do so by fear. She feared changing from something that is known and comfortable to something that is new and unknown.

Another friend in the fitness industry is providing online team workouts and printed schedules and meal plans while people are stuck at home.

Is any of this ideal?

Absolutely not, but this is our opportunity to be creative and bold – to view an obstacle as an opportunity for growth.

Which doesn’t mean that it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t suck. We don’t have to pretend that this is something magical and wonderful, because it’s not.

However, it is still an opportunity, and we won’t let it break or destroy us, we will – instead – allow it to push us to grow – because that is the only option.

Always,

Your Trusted Friend ❤