If there is one phrase that depicts 2024 for me, it would be this: Growth Mindset. This concept has reshaped how I approach challenges, view setbacks, and embrace change. Being an entrepreneur has opened my eyes to the need to adapt, create, keep pushing, and never self-doubt. I believe that hesitation gives self-doubt the time and space to exist in our lives. When we hesitate on goals, ideas, and passions, we let self-doubt derail us. I’ll share five key insights to help you explore how adopting a growth mindset could transform your life as well.
What Is a Growth Mindset?
For me, a growth mindset means looking at situations or problems and choosing to view them as opportunities for growth instead of being bogged down by negativity. It’s the belief that every experience, no matter how challenging, can lead to personal development and resilience. That no matter how difficult the task, we will grow in the process, even if we don’t necessarily succeed in the matter that we wanted.
To be clear: a growth mindset isn’t about being blindly optimistic or ignoring real struggles. It’s about rewiring your brain to see challenges as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. And trust me when I tell you, this shift doesn’t happen overnight—it’s a conscious choice and, for many of us, a behavior that we embrace after a lot of self-reflection.
My Journey to a Growth Mindset
In 2023, I truly embraced the growth mindset, and it changed my life. If you’ve followed my journey, you know I transitioned from a nearly 20-year career in journalism to going back to school for an MBA, starting a business, and navigating the uncertainties and inconsistencies of entrepreneurship. It is not easy, but it is so rewarding!
A pivotal moment came a few years ago when I read this unattributed quote:
“Each day, you are presented with two choices: evolve or repeat.”
This idea hit me like a ton of bricks. For years, I had been stuck in a cycle of repetition—going to work, completing tasks, and repeating the process. I kept climbing the ladder in the media because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do. Don’t get me wrong, I worked HARD and loved so much of my experience in journalism, but a seismic shift happened and there was no going back. I realized how unhappy I was, and I knew that I had to make a change, but let’s be honest, change is hard. So, I sat with that feeling for years until I finally woke up and decided to change my life… for me. I wanted to be one of those people who could look back at life and say “I did it. I bet on myself and took the risk.” This mindset shift of choosing to evolve became the catalyst for gaining the confidence to act.
Shifting to a Growth Mindset
Adopting a growth mindset didn’t happen instantly, it usually doesn’t. For me, it was time, reflection, trial and error. Eventually, I stopped viewing challenges as pains and started seeing them as opportunities for growth.
Here’s what changed for me:
I recognized that discomfort is where growth happens.
I embraced the process of learning and improving.
I found joy in overcoming obstacles, knowing each step made me stronger.
Five Key Insights for Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Here are five thoughts for you to consider helping you explore and adopt a growth mindset:
1. Embracing Challenges
When faced with new challenges, do you approach them with dread or excitement? A growth mindset encourages you to view challenges as opportunities to learn and accomplish something meaningful. For example, if you’re handed a new task at work, instead of focusing on how daunting it might be, consider how completing it will add to your skills and confidence.
Even small mindset shifts can make a big difference. Start by celebrating your accomplishments—no matter how small. Recognize that each challenge you overcome builds your resilience and capability.
2. Learning New Skills
Continuous learning is a cornerstone of the growth mindset. Whether it’s enrolling in courses, taking up a new hobby, or refining existing skills, each effort to learn adds value to your personal and professional life.
Personally, graduating with my MBA in 2024 was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. It reminded me how much growth comes from pushing through frustration and discomfort. Similarly, starting yoga taught me the value of persistence and the joy of improvement. Whether it’s learning Excel, mastering public speaking, or trying pickleball, every new skill contributes to your growth and confidence.
3. Adapting When Plans Change
Life rarely goes according to plan. Adapting to unexpected changes can be difficult, especially when you’ve invested time and energy in a particular path. However, learning to pivot and view setbacks as opportunities for growth can turn even the toughest situations into valuable lessons.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve faced countless challenges that require me to adjust my approach. Each time I adapted, I gained insights and skills that strengthened my ability to navigate future obstacles!
4. Keeping the Bigger Picture in Mind
Progress often happens in small, incremental steps. It can be hard to see the bigger picture when you’re in the midst of daily struggles, but every step forward contributes to your overall growth. Sometimes it takes a while to see the progress but don’t give up! Trust me, the progress is there! Keeping the bigger picture in mind can help push through the discomfort and achieve your goals.
5. Believing in Yourself
Belief in yourself is the foundation of a growth mindset. Without it, hesitation and self-doubt can creep in, delaying progress and preventing you from reaching your full potential.
Confidence allows you to take risks, embrace challenges, and express your value. It enables you to walk into a room energized instead of anxious, speak on stage with excitement rather than fear, and pursue your goals without hesitation. But it all starts with believing in your abilities and recognizing your worth.
What’ll it be for you?
As we are now into a new year, let’s challenge ourselves to grow together. To step into discomfort, embrace challenges, and view every setback as an opportunity to learn and evolve. Remember, each day you have a choice: evolve or repeat. By choosing to evolve, you unlock the power of the growth mindset and open the door to endless possibilities and more confidence.
So, what steps will you take today to grow? Whether it’s tackling a new challenge, learning a skill, or simply believing in yourself, remember growth is within your control.
Let’s make 2025 a year of transformation and success!
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