Growth Mindset & How to Fail-learn

I was a parent for 14 years and an occupational therapist for 15 years before I read the book “Mindset” by Carol Dweck.  

It changed everything for me- my inner self-talk, my parenting, my work as an OT with children, my teaching, my marriage, my friendships. I do mean everything!
 
A growth mindset is the concept that skills can be learned with effort and hard work, and that human beings are not “fixed” or static based on innate abilities.  

It sounds so simple. But it is life-changing when you apply it to everyday experiences.
 
In other words, life isn’t so much about who you are innately, but how hard you work, how committed you are to learning, and how willing you are to take risks and LEARN FROM FAILURE.
 
Ugh.  That word failure.  We all hate it.  It feels so shameful.
 
So I’ve coined a new word: fail-learn. There is no such thing as failure, just fail-learning.  We can always learn from the things we go through, and fail-learns are some of our best teachers. 

 
The more we live this out, the better parents we can be. 

It allows us to admit our mistakes, be honest with our children, and model for them that life is not about being “smart” or “gifted” or “intelligent” but about grit, stick-to-it-tiveness, commitment, and aiming for goals…even if we fall flat on our faces as we try to achieve them.  

That capacity to get back up and try again is what is ultimately important for our kids to learn. This way they learn to challenge themselves and not be afraid of failure!  And that is where a true love of learning comes from.
 
Here’s a short video on youtube about growth mindset if you want the 2-minute tutorial. 

But I highly recommend Dweck’s book if you want to really want to hear from the researcher who coined the term and is the world-renowned expert on the topic!  It is a short and entertaining read with lots of stories about growth mindset in parents, teachers, athletes, and businesses…

…and did I mention it will change your life?