10 Examples of a Growth Mindset Vs. Fixed Mindset

You’ve likely encountered the terms “growth mindset” and “fixed mindset,” especially if you hang out in personal development spaces (like this blog!) or in educational environments.

Even though these terms are growing in popularity, you may still wonder what they mean and how they affect our daily lives.

To help, I want to examine the differences between growth and fixed mindsets. I’ll also share ten real-world examples to show the difference in action.

First, though, let’s define the terms so we’re all on the same page.

What is a Mindset?

It’s your perception of reality. 

Your mindset includes your: 

• Assumptions
• Beliefs
• Attitudes
• Internal dialogue

Mindset has enormous power over your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Encounter a challenge in your professional life? Your mindset impacts how you respond.

Dealing with a setback in your personal life? Your mindset influences what you do next.

Growth Mindset Vs. Fixed Mindset: What’s the Difference?

Two adjectives people use to describe mindsets are fixed and growth. Let’s talk more about each one.

Fixed Mindset

The word fixed means that something is “fastened securely.” 

Fixed-minded people believe that certain traits about them are securely fastened or stuck. They see their innate abilities and intelligence as things they can’t change.

Those with a fixed mindset often struggle with self-limiting beliefs.

When faced with a difficult challenge or failure, they often give up. They don’t believe they have what it takes to overcome or be successful.

Growth Mindset

Now, let’s look at the concept of a growth mindset.

The word growth implies development or expansion. With a growth mindset, you see your natural talents and intelligence as merely a starting point. You believe that you can do anything with hard work and deliberate effort.

You see failure as a natural part of the learning process. In the face of challenges, you don’t retreat; you push on.

When you make mistakes, you use them as stepping stones on the path to your full potential.

Psychologist Carol Dweck researched the power of mindset. Her studies at Stanford University found distinct differences between students with a growth mindset and those with a fixed one.

Among the differences were:

• Higher academic achievement
• A stronger love of learning
• Greater resilience and perseverance
• A greater sense of self-worth
• A strong work ethic
• More confidence

Her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success dives deeper into the impact of a growth-oriented mindset.

The Benefits of a Growth Mindset

Carol Dweck isn’t the only role model we have regarding mindsets. Numerous studies point to the multiple benefits of being growth-oriented.

Let’s look at three of them:

• Willingness to learn new skills: A growth mindset makes you more willing to leave your comfort zone. You have a positive attitude about learning.
• Ability to embrace mistakes: With a fixed mindset, you see mistakes as proof of your shortcomings. A growth mindset helps you see mistakes as a powerful tool to help you do better.
• More successful relationships: When you maintain a set of assumptions about yourself, you also project them onto others. You may also see the successes of others as a threat. With a growth mindset, you’re more likely to cultivate strong relationships.

10 Examples of a Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

Now that you know more about these mindsets, let’s look at different ways they affect the real world. 

1. Learning a New Skill

This example uses learning to play the guitar. Feel free to apply it to any new skill you want to learn.

Growth Mindset: You’ve always wanted to play an instrument and can’t wait to learn the guitar. You know it’ll take time, effort, and practice, but you are willing to put in the effort.

When you strum the wrong pattern, you don’t panic. You know it’s only natural to make mistakes when learning new things. You’re willing to learn from what goes wrong and try again.

Fixed Mindset: You want to learn how to play the guitar but don’t know if you can. You believe some people have a natural ability for music and others don’t.

Each mistake you make proves that you’re not good at the guitar. You become frustrated quickly and start skipping practice sessions. Soon, you give up altogether.

2. High School Students Learning Algebra

Math is a common academic subject in which people experience a fixed mindset. 

Growth Mindset: You’ve heard some scary things about algebra, but try to keep an open mind about this academic subject. After all, you need higher grades in math to get into your dream college.

Once class starts, you pay attention and take notes. You make mistakes on your homework, but you don’t stop trying. You watch some online tutorials and ask your teacher for help.

Fixed Mindset: You’ve always struggled with math and dread algebra. When presented with new concepts, you write them off as too complicated. Instead of trying harder or seeking help, you become frustrated and give up, even though it hurts your academic performance.

3. Applying for a New Role

Let’s take the example of applying for a marketing manager role. Of course, you can substitute this with any job you want.

Growth Mindset: You view the entire application process as a learning experience. You tailor your resume to align with the job description and research the company to help you prepare for the interview.

If you don’t get hired, you reflect on your performance. Then, you brainstorm ways to improve next time.

Fixed Mindset: You review the desired qualifications and doubt your abilities. You aren’t a perfect match, and believe stronger candidates exist. At this point, you may talk yourself out of applying.

If you move forward, you don’t put much effort into the process. You know that it’s competitive. Afterward, you tell yourself that you’re just not cut out for a career in marketing.

4. Deciding If You Should Pursue Formal Education

Should you go back to school? Many people wrestle with this decision, so let’s use it as one of our examples of a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.

Growth Mindset: Sometimes, professional development and formal education go hand in hand. You understand this choice will be full of new challenges, but you feel ready to embrace them.

You actively seek out programs or courses that align with your career goals and interests. Then, you weigh your options.

Fixed Mindset: Going to college seems intimidating, but you’ve been told it’s what successful people do. Since you want to be successful, you pick a program and enroll.

You may believe it’s the easy way to a life of wealth and positive outcomes. However, you’re tempted to give up once the classes get tough.

5. Dealing With Past Mistakes

Self-criticism can prevent us from pursuing our dreams. Let’s explore how each mindset approaches past mistakes.

Growth Mindset: You know there’s no point in beating yourself up over a past mistake. Instead, you view each one as a learning opportunity. You use them to help you do better.

Self-compassion plays a significant role in your approach to past mistakes. You acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and that it’s a natural part of learning. Then, you forgive yourself and move on.

Fixed Mindset: Past mistakes may consume your thoughts. Whenever you face them, many negative emotions come to mind.

Instead of using them as growth opportunities, you see mistakes as a reflection of your ability. In your mind, it’s a personal failure.

6. Making a Workplace Change

Should you change jobs or careers? This decision isn’t easy. Here’s how each mindset might approach difficult situations like this.

Growth Mindset: Since you believe you can succeed in any role, you can weigh the pros and cons of this decision. You decide the change might be a good thing. For example, you’ll have new team members to meet and a chance to use your problem-solving skills.

Fixed Mindset: The thought of leaving your familiar job may trigger feelings of anxiety. You may struggle with self-doubt. If you decide to make the change, you may experience a fear of failure.

7. Having a Challenging Discussion with Your Partner

Relationships can be tricky, especially when it’s time for a difficult conversation. Your mindset can make a significant impact on how the discussion goes.

Growth Mindset: You approach the conversation with an open mind. You’re willing to listen and want to understand your partner’s point of view. Though challenges may occur, you’re determined to overcome them together.

Fixed Mindset: You may avoid the discussion, fearing potential conflict or backlash. If you have the conversation, you may enter it with a closed mindset and be unwilling to see things from a different perspective. This can lead to further misunderstanding.

8. Setting New Goals

New goals have a transformative power. Small changes can lead to big results, so let’s use this as one of our examples of a growth mindset.

Growth Mindset: You know about the positive effects of goal setting and embrace goals as a part of your personal growth. You brainstorm possible goals and pick the ones you’re most excited about.

In the face of setbacks, you don’t stop. Instead, you look for new ways of doing things and try again.

Fixed Mindset: Goal setting intimidates you. You worry you may not be able to follow through. This makes you hesitant to set goals. If you do, you tend to be vague. 

9. Tackling Big Projects

“Big projects” is a broad category, so let’s pick cleaning the garage as our example.

Growth Mindset: You know your garage is a mess and too big of a job to tackle at once. So, you break the project into smaller tasks. You decide to clean one area each Saturday. You know it might take a few months, but you stick to your plan.

Fixed Mindset: Your garage is messy, but you want it cleaned by Monday afternoon. You spent all weekend on the project but didn’t finish it, and now you’re tired and frustrated by the mess. You throw your hands up in frustration and walk away.

10. Performing Your Job

A growth-oriented employee will quickly adapt to new experiences and challenges, while one with a fixed mindset may struggle in these areas.

Growth Mindset: You’re willing to go the extra mile to learn. You want satisfaction in your professional life, so you remain open to feedback. 

Fixed Mindset: You believe your natural talents are fixed, so you’re less willing to put in extra effort. It seems pointless. Negative feedback feels like a personal attack, so you shut down and ignore it.

How To Move from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset

Hopefully, these examples helped you see the power of mindset in shaping our thoughts and actions. 

The good news? 

It’s possible to shift from a fixed mindset towards a growth-oriented one.

Use these four steps to get started:

1. Evaluate your mindset health:

Do some honest reflection. Do you have more of a fixed or growth mindset? How has your current mindset affected your life?

2. Recognize your mindset triggers:

What situations or tasks make you feel stuck or unable to improve? Identifying these triggers can help you be more aware of your thought patterns.

3. Practice growth mindset activities:

Some activities can challenge your mindset. Start saying positive affirmations or take on a 30-day challenge. Try something new.

4. Be patient:

Developing a growth mindset takes time. Be patient with the process and give yourself grace.

Final Thoughts

A growth mindset doesn’t guarantee success. You’ll still need to put in the work. However, shifting your mindset can open the door to new opportunities and positive experiences in your daily life.

Have you seen the benefits of an open mindset in your life? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Related Mindset Resources:

• 100 Growth Mindset Quotes for Adults and Kids
• 25 Habits to Be a Positive Person
• 15 Positive Ways to Focus on the Good Things in Life
• How To Find Your Happy Place: 20 Tips To Try