The Importance of Mindset

Do you cringe when the term “fixed” or “growth” mindset is brought up? I did… until I read Mindset by Carol Dweck. Having spent my whole life in Hong Kong, I’ve gotten used to the competitive atmosphere here, whether it be academics, extracurriculars, fitness etc. Growing up, I was known for being hardworking, but never a genius, nor the smartest person in the room. As a result, I was eager to discover how to achieve good grades or win competitions with less work and less effort. I wondered why certain people who achieved the same level of success that I did just didn’t have to put in as much time and effort. I envied them. Here’s what I’ve picked up: School shouldn’t be a competition that divides smart or “dumb” people. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unhappy, Mindset by Carol Dweck is a therapeutic book that you should consider reading. It summarises why some people succeed in life whilst others don’t. There is a reason why certain people become leaders, whilst others fail to achieve their goals. Leaders become leaders by turning their at-times fixed mindsets into growth ones. They strive to improve, not to prove others wrong nor to one-up others. They are not afraid of asking questions.

Mindset is written by Carol Dweck. If you don’t already know who Dweck is, she’s known for her work on the mindset psychological trait. Dweck has primary research interests in motivation, personality, and development. Her key contribution to social psychology relates to implicit theories of intelligence. In Mindset, she questions whether praising young children for their intelligence is advantageous or harmful. Commending individuals for their intelligence has become so common that we do it unconsciously. Dweck draws our attention to the daily praises we hear from our elders, especially ones that relate to intelligence rather than hard work. Reflecting upon her younger years, Dweck’s primary teachers used to categorise kids as either “smart” or “dumb” group. This lessened Dweck’s confidence and worsened her commitment towards learning. It makes me wonder why the education system never seems to improve. It just continues in a repetitive cycle.

Since a young age, we’re separated into different learning environments based on how well we do in a mere interview. If we pass that “test”, we’re given more tests... except, at a more constant rate. If we do well on these tests and get into a good university, we’re faced with new competition: getting a good job, trying to make as much money as we possibly can, securing relationships etc… this cycle never ends.

The importance of mindset is a philosophical question that should be explored to a greater degree in the future. Today, our societal system rewards individuals based on outcome rather than hard-work. This can be problematic for younger children as the “outcome” that is measured takes time and cultivation, rather than an intrinsic skill that is sculpted by genes or talent. Moving forward, more emphasis should be placed on how we can engage young people to confront difficulties and challenges with willpower and positivity.