When Carol Dweck released her book Mindset in 2006, she changed the landscape of intelligence psychology forever. You see, before her revolutionary principle of the growth mindset, the scientific community believed that intelligence was largely static.

In other words, they thought that you were either born smart or you weren’t.

Think about it - how many times have you seen people refer to their IQ tests to reference their intelligence and claim that it proves they were born smart?

But Dweck’s research overturned this long-standing belief.

She found that intelligence isn’t fixed at all—it actually can grow and change over time with the right mindset.

In this article, we're going to look at the major differences between having a growth mindset vs a fixed mindset. 

What is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that your intelligence and abilities can be developed over time through effort, good teaching, and persistence.

Think of it like this. The saying goes:

"It takes 10,000 hours to perfect a skill"

If it takes 10,000 hours to perfect a skill...it means skills can be perfected! You’re not just built with them.

Which is great for all those budding tone-deaf singers out there! (You'll be happy to know that newer research says it takes far less than that to perfect a skill, but that's a story for another day!).

What's the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset?

The difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset is pretty simple:

A fixed mindset believes that your abilities are set in stone—you are either born smart or you aren’t. This way of thinking often leads to a feeling of helplessness because if your abilities can’t change, then there’s nothing you can do to improve them.

A growth mindset, on the other hand, believes that your abilities can be developed over time through effort, good teaching, and persistence. This empowering belief leads to a feeling of hope because it means you can always get better and smarter. 

The difference between these two mindsets is pretty significant because it can determine how you approach obstacles, how resilient you are in the face of failure, and whether or not you ultimately achieve your goals.

Let’s take a closer look at some examples of a growth mindset vs a fixed mindset to see how they play out in real life.

Eight growth mindset vs fixed mindset examples 

Let's look at key growth mindset principles and how they differ from a fixed mindset:

1. You approach obstacles as opportunities to learn.

When you have a fixed mindset, you see obstacles as roadblocks that are preventing you from reaching your goal. This can lead to feelings of discouragement and frustration because it feels like you’re not making any progress.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you see obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow. This leads to a feeling of enthusiasm and excitement because you know that every obstacle you overcome is bringing you one step closer to your goal. 

2. You view failure as a learning opportunity.

When you have a fixed mindset, you see failure as a reflection of your lack of ability. This can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment because it feels like you’re not good enough.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you see failure as a learning opportunity. This leads to a feeling of curiosity and determination because you know that each failure is one step closer to success.

3. You persist in the face of setbacks. 

When you have a fixed mindset, you give up easily in the face of setbacks because you believe that it’s not worth it to try if you’re just going to fail anyway.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you persist in the face of setbacks because you know that each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. 

4. You view feedback as helpful information.

When you have a fixed mindset, you see feedback as a reflection of your lack of ability. This can lead to feelings of defensiveness and insecurity because it feels like you’re being judged.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you see feedback as helpful information that can help you improve. This leads to a feeling of openness and willingness to learn because you know that feedback is essential for growth.

5. You strive for improvement, not perfection.

When you have a fixed mindset, you strive for perfection because you believe that anything less than perfect is a reflection of your lack of ability. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and stress because it feels like you’re never good enough.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you strive for improvement because you know that there is no such thing as perfect. This leads to a feeling of motivation and satisfaction because you know that each step you take is bringing you closer to your goal.

6. You embrace challenges. 

When you have a fixed mindset, you avoid challenges because you are afraid of failing. This can lead to feelings of boredom and apathy because it feels like you’re not doing anything worthwhile. 

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you embrace challenges because you know that they are opportunities to learn and grow. This leads to a feeling of excitement and engagement because you know that each challenge is an opportunity to get closer to your goal.

7. You believe in the power of effort.

When you have a fixed mindset, you believe that talent is everything and effort is pointless. This can lead to feelings of discouragement and resignation because it feels like you’re just not good enough.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you believe that effort is essential for success. This leads to a feeling of hope and determination because you know that each step you take is bringing you closer to your goal.

8. You learn from your mistakes.

When you have a fixed mindset, you see mistakes as a reflection of your lack of ability. This can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment because it feels like you’re not good enough.

On the other hand, when you have a growth mindset, you see mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow. This leads to a feeling of curiosity and determination because you know that each mistake is one step closer to success. 

Growth mindsets will put you on the right track 

Overall, having a growth mindset is definitely more beneficial than having a fixed mindset. When you have a growth mindset, you are more motivated, engaged, and open to learning. You are also more likely to succeed in the long run. So if you want to achieve your goals, it’s important to develop a growth mindset!