“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” John Maxwell
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” ( Dweck, 2015) Choosing to learn and grow from “failure and mistakes” and intentionally re-framing the things you’re “bad” at as teachers to be embraced can completely change the way you live your life.
I’ve witnessed and experienced first-hand that growth mindset reduces stress, anxiety and it improves the body’s ability to self-regulate and cope with injury. When clients are very negative, stuck, and hard on themselves for doing something “wrong” or “bad”, it can limit their progress in therapy. The more I embrace growth mindset in my own life, the more I realize the cost and limitation of resisting change or mistakes! It takes a lot of energy and creates a lot of stress to not embrace these inevitable facts of life!
I’ll give you a simple example. If someone is learning a Feldenkrais lesson and they’re asking “Am I doing it right?” or they’re frustrated because it’s “Harder than it seems” I know that before we can continue learning, there needs to be a re-frame of their mindset. These statements are clear indicators that the brain is judging and getting stuck (typical human behavior!). Frustration and negativity shut down neuroplasticity and the ability to learn; if someone is always trying to be perfect and avoid failure and this is how their brain seeks success, then I know that their first Feldenkrais lesson needs to simply be a realization that being curious and engaged with your body is FUN and CREATIVE! Who cares if it’s “right”!? There is no “right” way to be in YOUR body. And that’s a weighted statement if you really think about it, it’s quite empowering.
If you’re not familiar with growth mindset, I highly recommend the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dwick. I often lend this book to clients that are motivated to change their life-long struggle with perfectionism, self-barrating and judgement, and limiting beliefs that make it difficult to develop healthier behaviors and relationships.
I also love this inspiring video about growth and change! Check it out: