5 Powerful Habits for Building a Growth Mindset

What if you could build just a few small habits that would change your life for the better?

What if any goal were achievable?

What if someone told you it was possible to live your dreams?

The truth: You can do all of it, and it all comes down to nurturing a growth mindset.

Unlike a fixed mindset, a growth mindset enables you to start living your dreams by taking away the limitations you put on your own abilities.

Here’s where it starts:

Remember that Failure Doesn’t Mean the End

You don’t simply get up in the morning, run a 1,500-meter race, and win an Olympic goal. If you did that, failure would be almost certain. So don’t set yourself up for that kind of failure. In other words, take small, achievable steps towards your goals.

Just the same, there are going to be times when you fall short. You’ll find yourself out of breath in the proverbial race—or even suffer an injury. That doesn’t mean you’re out of the game. Get up; try again; run another race.

Don’t let setbacks set you back; let them inspire you to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

Take Pride in the Little Things

The way you think about your achievements is indicative of how you see yourself. Prideful people boast about things that aren’t really worth boasting about. But being proud of something you’ve achieved because of commitment, dedication, and perseverance is a sign that you are committed to being a better person and that you acknowledge the energy you’ve invested in the process.

There’s a flip side, too: Don’t wait for praise from others. If you’ve just completed a task or a challenge that you’ve set for yourself, why do you need anybody else to tell you you’re a success? Be proud of your own accomplishments.

Embrace Challenge

Life is full of challenges. Whether you’re trying to get up early on a Monday morning or learning a new skill or hobby, challenges are part of life. Instead of shying away from them for fear of failure, however, why not embrace them and prove to yourself you can achieve positive results? There are benefits to either achieving or falling short; if you achieve, you affirm a specific skill, and if you fail, you know what you can work on to improve.

Norman A. Holland, a scientist for Academized, shared the results from one neurological study that demonstrated this: “Carol Dweck, a leader in the field of growth mindsets, asked a group of individuals with fixed and growth mindsets a collection of complex questions. Their brain activity was then studied as they were told whether the questions were right or wrong. The study showed that fixed mindset individuals were only interested with their right answers while growth mindset individuals were eager to learn from wrong answers.”

This shows that it doesn’t matter if individuals with a growth mindset get things right or wrong; they simply want to give all challenges a go and learn from their mistakes.

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Editor Craig Ballantyne knows the ins and outs of challenge. From the physical challenges he taught millions to overcome with Turbulence Training, to his own struggles with building businesses from the ground up, Craig has faced challenge head-on.

In fact, he decided to create a system to make the most of life’s challenges. He called it “The Perfect Day Formula.” (You can get a FREE copy here.)

In his seminal book, Craig talks about all of the tip, tracks, routines, and hacks he learned on the path to personal and professional success—all a part of a true growth mindset.

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Choose Your Words Carefully

The importance of how you speak to yourself and the people around can’t be stressed enough. Whether you’re talking to your best friend, your mom, or a complete stranger, choosing your words is critical to developing positive relationships. And those relationships will ultimately open doors to new opportunities and experiences.

One of the best ways to practice your speaking is through writing. Use websites such as State of Writing to enhance your writing skills, your vocabulary, and your overall articulation. Weave some of these lessons into your daily speech.

Remember That YOU Control You

At the end of the day, your attitudes, your beliefs, and your perceptions all depend on YOU.

Every decision you have ever made comes from inside your head—from a casual “I love you,” to decisions that impact your whole life, like taking on a new job or buying a house.

With each one, it’s important to remember that only YOU have the power to control your life’s direction.

And if you feel like your mind is muddy, try meditating or taking some time to clear your head. Remember what’s important, and go after the challenges that will make you a better, happier person.

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