The Realistic Mindset
Food for Thought: Bites of wisdom. Ideas to chew on.
Having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset is an idea that many people are now familiar with. If you haven’t heard of it, this article explains the basics of the concept in the way that I learned it. Most people who know about this phenomenon have the impression that a growth mindset is a great thing to have that will allow you to push your limits and that a fixed mindset is essentially a limiting condition that will leave you unsatisfied and depressed. I believe that neither a growth mindset nor a fixed mindset will create true success, and the ideal mindset is what I’ve coined as the “realistic mindset.”
Both growth and fixed mindsets have good and bad things about them. Taking the best of both worlds and combining them to create an ideal mindset that isn’t limiting but is realistic, has given me essential disciplines and an overall more happy life.
Pros of a growth mindset:
Allows the attainer to take criticism.
Allows the attainer to gain inspiration.
Often makes the attainer will put in more effort to achieve an outcome.
Cons of a growth mindset:
Attainers of a growth mindset often refuse to believe that natural ability does play a significant part in someone's ability, which can lead to a lack of motivation.
Having a growth mindset can lead to a false outlook on gaining skills.
Pros of a fixed mindset:
The attainer can realize that they can’t be good at everything.
The attainer often has a realistic view of their natural skills, and thus monopolizes on them.
Cons of a fixed mindset:
Often can’t take on new challenges or grow.
Often can’t take criticism.
The attainer can feel a lack of motivation.
So what is the realistic mindset? Well, it has a lot of different characteristics, some of which I’ve been working on for the past several months. These characteristics are:
Being able to take criticism.
Taking new challenges, as well as putting in the effort to achieve them.
Being well-rounded, but also optimizing for natural abilities.
Realize that for every natural ability, there will be areas where you struggle as well. For me, I am good at writing, yet I am absolutely horrific at spacial awareness, which makes me bump into people and things a lot.
These four essential characteristics combine the best of both the growth and the fixed mindsets to create a hybrid mindset that is both practical and goal-achieving. Keep in mind that this mindset won’t be an easy process to attain. As I said, it took months for me to build these traits. But I have reaped the benefits of it. I have gained pragmaticism, efficiency, work ethic, the ability to take criticism, and learning how to learn, all from this journey to improve my mindset to a place that I want it.
Even though it may not be comfortable, I invite you to challenge your mindset to one that is realistic. It will give you a more skillful, happy, motivated, and productive life, just as it did for me.
Remember, realism comes not from doing everything, nor does it come from doing only one thing. Realism comes from using your talents and improving your weaknesses.