Week 8 Growth Mindset

There are several dimensions to the growth that I have seen in this class, this semester, and in life recently, with some being good and some being bad. I really liked the list provided of the comparisons and contrasting dimensions of growth provided for me to gauge myself and my progress.

I would say that in this class and during this semester, I have pushed myself further and found motivation in working hard simply because that is what you do. I have tried new things, such as writing styles, topics, and even classes this semester, and been excited to learn what each has to offer. I would say that I have taken risks by doing so, but I have been rewarded thus far and discovered that choosing what may be harder but teaches you more is generally the best route. I have felt excited and ready for change, especially knowing that this is my last semester at the best university in the world, and fueled my work ethic with such energy. But it is a bittersweet emotion, so I have also felt very sentimental about all of the "lasts" that are sprinkled throughout the semester (like my last choir concert ever yesterday). I would say that overall my attitude towards working hard, being motivated, and being excited about the future have grown throughout this semester and class so far.

However, I have had trouble with being a perfectionist, feeling defensive about any mistakes made in my writings and schoolwork, and been very hard on myself for any shortcomings, whether academic, social, or emotional. I am usually anxious each time I post a story and it is difficult for me to willingly allow other students to read my work because I feel like theirs are always much better. This is an area that this class has challenged and pushed me in, though I still feel some of the anxiety if I try a new method for a story. I have also had to let go of being a perfectionist with so many stories and assignments this semester because then I would never truly be finished with any of them and the editing would never end! Since I have written so many essays and stories, I have gotten better about obsessing less and allowing my writing to naturally flow without forcing it.

Retraining my mind to follow this growth mindset has been a process and I still have much to go, but I am enjoying it and think it is really beneficial to my mental health. Especially when the stress of the semester hits and I can't do or participate in everything. To further these strengths and work on my weaknesses, I want to try even more storytelling styles and take bigger risks with my writing over the next few weeks. There are many methods I have not tried yet and I want to explore all that creative writing has to offer! 

(Retrain Your Mind from Pixabay)

Growth Mindset

I have never heard of either Carol Dweck or the concept of "growth mindset" before, but they were certainly words that I needed to hear. I tend to have what Carol defines as a "fixed" mindset, because I have always been obsessed with making good grades, excelling above and beyond expectations, and being naturally gifted at whatever task set before me. Regardless of prior knowledge or experience, I often expect myself to be instantly good at things and become incredibly frustrated when I am not. Throughout high school and the beginning of college, I had always been a straight A student, but I had never stepped very far out of my comfort zone of learning. Since I was studying music, something I had done since I was six, concepts and techniques came naturally to me and I was never faced with much failure.

When I transferred to OU, I challenged myself with something completely new and become a science major (even though I somehow managed to get through high school with barely any science classes). It was often difficult at first, but I began to see unsatisfactory test grades as stepping stones to true understanding and stressed out less about my grades and GPA, instead appreciating the concepts I was learning and the growth I was experiencing. Whether or not it was reflected on a test, paper, or even an entire class, I was learning information that would be useful to me in my future career as a Physical Therapist. That's when I really began to enjoy practicing, studying, reading, and truly learning so that I could always challenge myself to take it one step farther and become smarter.

I enjoyed the videos of Carol's talks because they greatly resonated with me and encouraged me to step outside of this "fixed" mindset. My favorite example of hers was the grades of "Not Yet" earned by stuents because not immediately excelling is not the end of the world as we often see it. It is simply postponing to ensure future success. That story reminds me of my brother's Pre-Kindergarten teacher telling my parents that my brother needed "the gift of another year" when she decided to hold him back. It ended up working out wonderfully and the "Not Yet" grade reminds me of this.

Personally, I would love to implement this Growth Mindset into my academic and social endeavors because I truly think it is the healthiest mindset for peace and happiness. One class I'm especially hoping to experience this in is my government class since that is a subject that I have no experience and extremely limited knowledge in, meaning I know it will take time for me to understand and I must be patient with myself. I am inspired by this topic and would like to learn more!

(Growth Mindset Image from Flickr)