Do You Have A Fixed Mindset Or A Growth Mindset?

Well, I hate to be prophetic about “bad” news but last week when I was discussing how I can implement an effective exercise program while chronically ill, I wondered aloud what tools I was going to be able to use to help me during any health setbacks!  I discovered that I would need them rather quickly!  I have been enduring increased pain due to weather changes, chemical sensitivities and due to “ only God knows why” – all I know is I have lots of pain!! Anyways, I have discovered that once again the authors Dan and Chip Heath in their book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard have some helpful things to say when we experience tough circumstances yet you still want to make a change.

I love the fact that they say,

“You need to create the expectation of failure – not the failure of the mission itself, but failure en route.” 

 Therefore, I was being realistic last week when I knew that I would have setbacks!  However, the question is which mindset do I have in order to handle the inevitable failures! 

Assessing Your Mindset

The authors give four sentences that you must agree or disagree to assess whether you have a growth or fixed mindset:

1.    You are a certain kind of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that.

2.    No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially.

3.    You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can’t really be changed.

4.    You can always change basic things about the kind of person you are. (p.163)

 

I’m sure you have already guessed that if you agree to questions 2 and 4 you have a growth mindset and if you agree to questions 1 and 3, you have a fixed mindset. 

Do I believe that “no matter whether I am chronically ill, I can change substantially?”  Or do I have a fixed mindset:  “I am chronically ill with lots of limitations and there is not much that can be done to really change that.” Do I believe, “ I can change basic things like my physical fitness regardless of my health condition”?  Obviously, I WANT to have a growth mindset. 

Setbacks and a Growth Mindset

I like what the authors say about setbacks: 

“The growth mindset, then, is a buffer against defeatism.  It reframes failure as a natural part of the change process.  And that’s critical, because people will persevere only if they perceive falling down as learning rather than as failing.” 

Just reading their research findings about the importance of adopting a growth mindset helped me duringthis setback.  I did less self-condemning muttering like, “I am an idiot thinking that I could get physically fit since I continually have relapses. ”    I had to squelch those kinds of negative thoughts since I knew that the growth mindset needed to “accept more challenges despite the risk of failure.”  Obviously, I knew there would be challenges when I set this goal of exercising regularly! 

Adopting a Growth Mindset

As I practice a growth mindset, I am more accepting of my current need for more rest. However I also look for as many opportunities to still exercise regardless of the pain.  Two nights ago at 10:00 p.m. the pain felt a bit more manageable and I asked my husband to take me for a short walk around our cul de sac.  When we returned, the pain hadn’t worsened or improved; however, emotionally, I was encouraged that I had “exercised” one more day.  Last night, I assessed my condition and gave myself permission to not exercise and to not chastise myself for that decision!

 With a growth mindset, I can ask myself what I can do to shorten the length of this relapse.  With a growth mindset, I can assess if there are exercises I can still do while lying in bed!! With a growth mindset, I can remind myself that relapses are temporary and as I incorporate more and more exercise into my daily routine, I may even endure less relapses.  Wow!  With a growth mindset, my Elephant – my emotions – are able to stay balanced while my Rider – my rational side – is able to assess logically what to do during a setback!

As I practice building my growth mindset muscles, I will embrace more helpful tools to successfully adopt a regular exercise program while chronically ill and to help me during any further setbacks.   According to the authors Dan and Chip Heath, I need to adopt one more crucial factor:  Shape the Path. 

Next week, I will assess how to apply this information to a chronically ill person wanting to exercise!

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