Hello there,
Welcome back to the SCTF blog. I hope you enjoyed our previous post highlighting the YWCA Sexual Assault Prevention Program! One of my favorite parts of my job is networking with other programs and individuals committed to building safety in our community.
Today we’ll discuss the growth mindset. Below is a 10 minute Ted Talk video I encourage you to watch if you have time. If not, skip ahead and keep reading!
Welcome back to the SCTF blog. I hope you enjoyed our previous post highlighting the YWCA Sexual Assault Prevention Program! One of my favorite parts of my job is networking with other programs and individuals committed to building safety in our community.
Today we’ll discuss the growth mindset. Below is a 10 minute Ted Talk video I encourage you to watch if you have time. If not, skip ahead and keep reading!
“Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field.”
The word yet comes up a lot in our corner of the world. Young people consistently experience shame, guilt or frustration regarding the limits of their abilities. It’s written on our website, "...they may not be good at something YET, but they can be one day if they continue to make the effort." This message is consistently relayed during our work. We even have a team of supportive adults called Y.E.T. (Youth Engagement Team) who spread this message and implement other important work.
As the speaker in the Ted Talk mentions, the power of yet takes time and practice to harness. Dweck notes how schools celebrate good grades instead of good processes, effort or journeys. This harmful reward system is complemented by the influence of social media reinforcing the need for gratification now.
It’s important to encourage the growth mindset as early and often as possible.
As the speaker in the Ted Talk mentions, the power of yet takes time and practice to harness. Dweck notes how schools celebrate good grades instead of good processes, effort or journeys. This harmful reward system is complemented by the influence of social media reinforcing the need for gratification now.
It’s important to encourage the growth mindset as early and often as possible.
The growth mindset refers to a set of attitudes and beliefs around the idea of yet. It means understanding:
Growing is a critical part of being human. Everyone has hopes, desires and dreams of things they wish they could achieve. Even the most impressive adults who seem like they’ve reached their highest form of being have things they work on and opportunities for growth. Knowing that growth is a universal human experience helps young people embrace the growth mindset.
So what can you do to work on your own growth mindset? I’m going to try something tricky here so stick with me…
Refer to my earlier blog post about defining your personal brand. Set aside time considering, brainstorming and imagining the person you want to be. What would you like to be able to do? What does the most impressive and awesome version of yourself look like in your mind? If you were capable of anything, what would it be?
Now target one of your answers; one aspect of your personal brand and develop a set of steps you can take to achieve that vision. Start small. The SCTF Coordinator, Josh Beaman, often reminds us to do one small thing every day that brings us closer to reaching our goals. It can be tiny and miniscule- the growth mindset takes any effort into consideration regardless of size. It all leads to something greater.
- Humans are meant to learn and grow
- Time and effort lead to success and improvement
- You are capable of more than you realize, if only you are able to harness your potential
- In order to grow you must set well defined goals, envisioning where you want to be and comparing it with where you are now
- Feedback is necessary for improvement
- We are working towards something greater and every small thing you do counts
- Process and effort are equally, if not more significant than outcomes
- Mistakes are information
- Challenges are opportunities for growth
- “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It takes time to make significant, powerful outcomes. Time, energy and lots of support.
Growing is a critical part of being human. Everyone has hopes, desires and dreams of things they wish they could achieve. Even the most impressive adults who seem like they’ve reached their highest form of being have things they work on and opportunities for growth. Knowing that growth is a universal human experience helps young people embrace the growth mindset.
So what can you do to work on your own growth mindset? I’m going to try something tricky here so stick with me…
Refer to my earlier blog post about defining your personal brand. Set aside time considering, brainstorming and imagining the person you want to be. What would you like to be able to do? What does the most impressive and awesome version of yourself look like in your mind? If you were capable of anything, what would it be?
Now target one of your answers; one aspect of your personal brand and develop a set of steps you can take to achieve that vision. Start small. The SCTF Coordinator, Josh Beaman, often reminds us to do one small thing every day that brings us closer to reaching our goals. It can be tiny and miniscule- the growth mindset takes any effort into consideration regardless of size. It all leads to something greater.
Analyze each day as it passes. Assess what you can do today to get where you want to be tomorrow. Consider what could have been done differently. Keep in mind some days you won’t do much- or maybe you won’t do anything! You still learn from not doing much or even from not doing anything.
Some days you will fail. If you redefine the meaning failure this setback won’t throw you off your game.
My last piece of advice is to let us know how it’s going! Sharing your growth with people you love in a supportive community helps keep us committed and on track. At our latest community meeting you heard Craig Blanchette say, “If you try alone you fail alone.”
You are not alone; you need not try alone.
Sending my best,
Christopher Belisle at SCTF
Some days you will fail. If you redefine the meaning failure this setback won’t throw you off your game.
My last piece of advice is to let us know how it’s going! Sharing your growth with people you love in a supportive community helps keep us committed and on track. At our latest community meeting you heard Craig Blanchette say, “If you try alone you fail alone.”
You are not alone; you need not try alone.
Sending my best,
Christopher Belisle at SCTF
