"Successful people look at themselves as a work in progress.
Unsuccessful people look at themselves as the finished product."
- Someone in a random meeting a long time ago
About 20 years ago I was sitting in a meeting when someone casually said the quote above. I thought it was incredibly profound and insightful. No one else even flinched.
Think about it.
What if . . .
You looked at life as an adventure and your goal is to improve yourself. Rather than looking at life as a test and your goal is to prove yourself.
You looked at failures as temporary and learning from them makes you better and stronger. Rather than looking at your failures as permanent and a major hit to your self-confidence.
You invited corrected feedback because you look at it is a way to reduce blind spots and increase your value. Rather than becoming defensive or discouraged when someone provides corrective feedback.
This outlook on life is commonly called the Growth Mindset.
I find it incredibly liberating!
Here are 3 major benefits to living with the Growth Mindset.
1. You Fear Less.
If you use all of life's experiences, the good and bad, to improve yourself, you can live lighter and fuller. If you are out to improve yourself, not prove yourself - the pressure is off. If you fear less. You become fearless.
2. You Become Resilient.
Obstacles, failures, and challenges all provide an opportunity to get better and stronger. When you truly learn from your mistakes, you can bounce back stronger.
3. You Increase Your Potential
With the Growth Mindset, you step into challenges and you embrace, not avoid new experiences. You become comfortable with the uncomfortable. And the only place you will ever grow is outside your comfort zone.
In short, the Growth Mindset enables you to live more fully and freely.
Go there!
"If you are determined to learn,
nothing can stop you.
If you are unwilling to learn,
no one can help you."
- Zig Ziglar