Book recommendation: Mindset, the psychology of success
***I will announce the winner of the Blogiversary drawing later in this post, I promise,
but first I want to tell you about an important book I just read.***
Do you believe that a person is born with a certain amount of intelligence, or can one increase his or her intelligence? What about talent? Are you born with it or can it be developed? Your answers to those questions indicate whether you have a growth or a fixed mindset and dramatically influence your approach to all aspects of life: parenting, work, school, sports, relationships, and even hobbies.
After decades of research, Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple, but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset, and she shares it in her book, Mindset, the new psychology of success.
I started reading Dr. Dweck’s book with the preconceived notion that I have a growth mindset (after all that’s the “right” mindset, isn’t it?), but the more I read, the more I realized in a lot of areas, my thinking more closely resembles a fixed mindset.
What is the difference and why should you care? As Dr. Dweck describes it, “Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over. If you have only a certain amount of intelligence, a certain personality, and a certain moral character—well, then you’d better prove that you have a healthy dose of them.” If you believe these traits are a hand you’re dealt, you’re “always trying to convince yourself and others that you have a royal flush when you’re secretly worried it’s a pair of tens.”
On the other hand, in the growth mindset, the hand you’re dealt is just the starting point. Dr. Dweck explains, “This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts, your strategies, and help from others. Although people may differ in every which way—in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments—everyone can change and grow through application and experience.”
Of course, the truth is we all experience some of each mindset and often move back and forth between the two. The power of this book is learning to recognize when we are at risk of slipping into a fixed mindset and what to do about it.
I highly recommend this book, and I’d love to hear from those of you who have already read it. What did you think?
What other personal or professional development books have you read? Would you recommend them?
And the winner is…
Okay, now for the moment you’ve been waiting for…the winner of the Blogiversary Give-away is
I’m so excited to be the winner! Thanks so much!!
???
You’re welcome. Thanks for your support of my blog over the last two years. I love you!
Lucky girl!
This book sounds very interesting. I think it would be good for me to read. Congrats Liz!
I found it very interesting. You’re welcome to borrow my copy, Cindy.
I love Carol Dweck’s work, especially ‘Mindset’. If given one personal/professional development book to recommend, that would be my top choice! Thanks for sharing it here.
Such a great book. I’m glad you enjoyed it as well.
I’m going to put that book on my Must Read list. xx
Hmmm…someone I know got your name in the Christmas name draw. 😉
Hi… came over from your guest post on Donna’s blog. I love book recommendations. Right now my to-be-read pile is tipping over, so I’ll add it (love my Amazon wish list) but not buy it yet. I’m pretty sure I’m a Fixed Mindset, from your description, and wonder if reading the book will help me utilize that mindset better in this new life-stage (early retirement).
Welcome Pat! Thanks for coming by. I know what you mean by a tipping over reading list, but yes, I definitely suggest you add this one to the wish list. I believe the information and skills offered in Mindset would definitely be useful as you move into a new life-stage.
Hi Christie! I’m a big fan of Carol Dweck and have quite a bit of her work and even wrote a couple of blog posts about it too! I think it is so important for us all to remember that we can make positive changes to our minds as long as we stay aware of that idea–and are then willing to work to make sure the change “sticks.” I think most of us who are writers realize that it is mostly persistence and practice that helps us succeed. I started my writing from a very humble position but after all these years I know I have improved. If I can…anyone can! Thanks for that reminder. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy. I’m always glad to meet another Carol Dweck fan. I agree persistence and practice are key to success in writing–and most everything else as well. I love the idea that the key to good writing is to be willing to write something really crappy first. If you’re afraid of writing something bad, you probably won’t ever write at all. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. It’s much appreciated.
This book sounds interesting. I think most people would be interested. We all want to reach our full potential, sometimes we just need a helping hand
Agreed Linda. I don’t believe any of us could reach our full potential without a helping hand now and again.
Christie, this sounds like a great book! I really need to read it. Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty
I believe you would enjoy it, Lori. If you do read it, I’d love to hear what you think. Thanks.