Six ways to cultivate a growth mindset and unlock your potential

Mindset matters

Why do some people sail through life, face challenges head-on, and embrace difficulties with open arms, while others retreat in the face of adversity?

According to Prof. Carol Dweck, it is the mindset: The firm belief that difficulties are just new ways to grow, that challenges need to be embraced, and that there is no finite set of abilities, skills, or talents - anything is possible.

A growth mindset accepts that you are in control of your abilities. Despite having talent, you are not defined by that talent but by the ability to grow and learn. Talent gets you a ticket to the game, but continuous effort, learning, and growth help you finish the game.

The opposite of a growth mindset is the belief that you are born with a skill or talent - you either have it, or you don’t.

We all move along a continuum, with a fixed mindset on one side and a growth mindset on the other. The challenge is to make sure we always lean more toward a growth mindset.

But can we develop a growth mindset? The short answer is yes. Our brains are not static. Neuroscientists have proven that we can influence our brains to develop new neural pathways and change the meaning we attach to information, events, or actions.

After all, thoughts create feelings, and feelings create actions.

Below are six ways to set the mind up for growth — because positive thoughts will create positive feelings, which will create positive actions:

1. Set the tone for each day

Instill a habit for yourself, your children, or anyone around you.

Start every morning by completing the sentence with an intention, action, or mindset phrase: "Today I will have a great day by..."

2. Reward small steps

Take small steps and reward yourself with a positive comment and physical expression. It may sound strange, but your brain responds to this by releasing positive neurochemicals. Start by selecting or breaking down smaller tasks, then compliment yourself for each small step you take toward accomplishing your goal. Starting your fitness regime from zero and running 5 km on the first try is not a good idea. Your goal is to eventually run 5 km, so start with the smallest of tasks and compliment yourself on each step. Exaggerate — your brain will love it.

3. Switch up your routine

• Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand.
• Learn to write with your non-writing hand.
• Find a new way to tie your shoelaces.
• Surprise your brain with something different every day. Give it a reason to work harder. If it feels uncomfortable, you're on the right track.

4. Set your mobile phone, computer, and tablet aside

The brain works better if it has some free time. Setting aside all electronics means your brain can have space to compute, think, and resolve challenges.

Take a walk, sleep on it, and without any effort, you may come up with a solution. When we learn something new, our brains work hard to "get it." It needs time to process and work it out. If you are constantly engaged in scrolling, watching, or tagging, the brain has no free time to reflect, review, and find new solutions.

5. Give thoughts positive energy

The brain releases a range of feel-good neurochemicals related to forward movement or the pursuit of goals. Knowing this, you can reward your thoughts and change your perspective.

Encountering difficulties or challenges should never result in a hard stop. It is only a sign that there is another way, another route to explore.

To ensure your brain releases those feel-good neurochemicals, always compliment yourself. Soon, difficulties or challenges will become something you take in your stride — something you can and will overcome.

Thoughts create feelings; feelings create behaviours.

6. The power of focus

Neuroscientists suggest that two important conditions need to be present to open the brain up for neuroplasticity: focus and urgency. By releasing the right neurochemicals, the brain can find new neural pathways.

Meditation, hypnosis, and yoga all contribute to focus and urgency in different ways. While yoga and meditation have largely been accepted as mindfulness, focus, relaxation, and even manifestation techniques, hypnosis remains somewhat of a mystery to most people.

Neuroscientists have only recently started researching and understanding the benefits of hypnosis. Few other techniques are as effective as Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) at creating neural pathways almost instantly.