How Does Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Work?

A growth mindset means you believe you can get better at things by practicing and learning, while a fixed mindset means you think you're just as good as you are, no need to try harder.

Imagine you’re playing with building blocks. If you have a growth mindset, it's like you say, “I didn’t build the tallest tower yet, I can keep trying!” You might knock it down once or twice, but you keep stacking more blocks because you know practice makes progress.

But if you have a fixed mindset, it’s like you say, “This tower is already perfect, I don’t need to try anymore.” Even if it falls over, you think, “I was never going to build the tallest tower anyway.”

Think of learning to ride a bike. A growth mindset says, “I wobble a little, that’s okay! I’ll keep pedaling until I get the hang of it!” You might fall once or twice, but you’re excited to try again.

A fixed mindset says, “I fell over, I’m just not good at riding bikes.” You might stop trying because you think you’ll never be able to ride without falling.