Mindset
I'm currently reading Mindset, by Carol S Dweck (soon to be appearing at the Scottish Learning Festival!). In a nutshell, her thesis is this: Everyone has one of two basic mindsets. If you have the fixed mindset, you believe that your talents and abilities are set in stone - either you have them or you don't. You must prove yourself over and over, trying to look smart and talented at all costs. This is the path of stagnation. If you have a growth mindset, however, you know that talents can be developed at that great abilities are built over time. This is the path of opportunity and success. This makes a lot of sense to me. I have inevitably been wondering about the mindsets of those around me, and about my own mindset. It would be indiscreet to try to judge others here, so I'll do a bit of navel gazing! I most definitely grew up with the fixed mindset. I caught it from my Mum (notice that those with the fixed mindset tend to look outside themselves for things to bla