I can’t…

Happy Spring!

It’s official Spring has sprung! (And so has the pollen-Ker-chew!) Besides those gorgeous cherry blossoms (here in DC anyway) is growth in the air for you?

It makes me think about mindset. Our mindset is a set of beliefs we hold that help us make sense of the world – and ourselves. According to ground-breaking research* our mindset plays a huge role in how we cope with life’s challenges.

Do you think you bring a fixed, or growth mindset to how you think, feel, and behave in your career and your life?

What’s the diff? If we bring a fixed mindset, we think – This is it. This is how/who I am. This is how things are. I am good/bad at this. Will I look smart or dumb here? With a growth mindset, we think – I am a work in progress. I can get better at X if I work at it, or get some support. It’s about a readiness to grow.

So. Which mindset is your default? To find out, I invite you to reflect on a challenge, or set-back you’ve experienced recently. Maybe just yesterday, or last week. Maybe you saw someone do something BETTER than you – at something you really value. If nothing comes to mind, think how you tend to react.

Now, ask yourself –

• Is your first response anxiety or super-cautious?

• Do you feel incompetent or defeated – maybe crushed?

• Do you become angry or defensive?

• Do you feel envious – maybe threatened?

If you’ve answered yes to one (or all) of the above, welcome to life as a real human-being.

Still. What would happen if you got curious instead? What if you got interested in learning from the feedback you received, or the situation?

Now, of course you can’t go through every single moment doing this, or you’d be exhausting your dang self all day long. And, a fixed mindset has its place for sure. HOWEVER….

As we spring forward, may I challenge you? Ask yourself: Can I commit to bringing a growth mindset to my thinking and actions this month? What might happen if you tried this shift: Adjust one I can’t – in your job, home or relationships – to I wonder if I can?

How might that one change help you grow, possibly thrive -- even during a challenging time in your life?

Please let me know what happens! As always – judgment-free zone here.

That’s all for now. Thank you for reading Em’s E-Musings and feel free to pass along to others who might benefit, or enjoy being part of this community.

*Note: Carol Dweck’s ground-breaking fixed vs growth mindset framework came from her landmark studies observing 400 students making the transition to junior high school