When confronted with a setback, some people demonstrate remarkable resilience and go on to grow and achieve, while others are crushed. What makes the difference? 

Psychologist Carol Dweck believes that one’s worldview, or mindset, makes all the difference. Through her research, Dweck has found that some people believe that intelligence, talent, and other qualities don’t change over time. Dweck calls this a “fixed mindset”. In contrast, people with a “growth mindset” believe that intelligence, skill, ability, and even character traits can change, grow, and develop over time. 

Can you guess which mindset helps develop resilience? 

Fixed Mindset 

People with a fixed mindset believe that character, intelligence and talent are inborn and unchangeable. One is smart or dumb, an athlete or a klutz, a good person or a bad one, a winner or a loser. 

People with fixed mindsets tend to believe that effort is a sign of lack of ability. If you are good at something, they think, it should just come naturally. As a result, people with a fixed mindset often avoid challenging tasks that might reveal their weaknesses. 

It’s also common for people with a fixed mindset to avoid feedback or to take feedback as personal criticism. People without a fixed mindset who believe they are smart or talented will look for opportunities to show off their skills, while fixed-mindset people who believe they don’t have skills may give up. After all, why try hard at something if you are dumb, and can’t learn anyway?  

Growth Mindset 

In contrast, people with a growth mindset believe growth and change are always possible with hard work and sound strategies. People with a growth mindset have a love of learning and are not afraid to try new things that they may not be good at first. They are also not afraid of feedback. They are willing to change course and try new strategies and techniques to achieve their goals. 

When people with a growth mindset don’t succeed at something they have worked hard at, such as getting into a graduate program, it may hurt. However, they don’t see such setbacks as personal failures, which people with a fixed mindset often do. Instead, people with a growth mindset turn their attention to ways in which they can learn, grow, and improve in order to reach their goals next time. In other words, they are resilient in the face of setbacks. 

Changing Your Mindset 

While people with a fixed mindset believe that their qualities are fixed, the research is clear: the growth mindset is scientifically correct. The human brain continues to learn, grow, and make new connections throughout our lives. The key to embracing a growth mindset is to accept that learning and growth are possible and to keep trying different methods to succeed until you find the one that works for you.