Mindset
Our mindset is made up of the mental attitudes and inclinations that we have in the world and towards the world. What we think matters. Our thoughts determine our actions and beliefs. What we feed our minds with becomes our mindset.
Romans 12:2 states, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”You may have heard the terms growth mindset, fixed mindset, abundance mindset, and scarcity mindset. I want to break these down here. If you haven’t heard of them, you are in the right place. If you have, now they’ll live here and be together in one place for you to reference later. I’ll also point you to some resources if you are curious to learn more and do your own research.
Growth vs. fixed mindset
In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Stanford professor Carol Dweck discusses and defines these two mindsets. People with a fixed mindset are “people who believe that their success depends on time and effort. People with a growth mindset feel their skills and intelligence can be improved with effort and persistence.”
She coined these terms to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence.
Growth mindset = intelligence can be developed
Fixed mindset = intelligence is static
A growth mindset is based on the belief that intelligence, talent, and abilities can be developed.
embraces challenges
learns from feedback
inspired by the success of others
A fixed mindset is based on the belief that intelligence, talent, and abilities are set in stone; the belief that we are born with a particular set of skills.
avoids challenges
ignores feedback or is paralyzed by feedback
threatened by the success of others
Abundance vs. scarcity mindset
Stephen Covey coined these terms in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
An abundance mindset is based on the belief that there is enough to go around.
thinks big
sees opportunities
takes responsibility
acts in confidence and freedom
optimistic (see the glass as half full)
collaborative
A scarcity mindset is based on the belief that you don’t have enough.
thinks small
focuses on issues and problems
avoids taking personal responsibility
acts in fear
pessimistic (see the glass as half empty)
competitive
Oprah Winfrey has an interesting quote that sums these two up: “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.”
Keeping an abundance mindset and focusing on all that you have in life, attracts abundance into your life. When you remain focused on what you lack, you are always left wanting more. This can be built. With a growth mindset, an abundance mindset can be nurtured. You can practice and build new beliefs!
Again, what we feed our minds with becomes our mindset.
Plenty of research has been done around gratitude. Gratitude helps to transform your mindset and focus on the abundance already available to you in your life. Expressing gratitude, inclusive of a gratitude journaling practice, improves mental and physical well-being. Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain health expert, describes some of the health benefits of a consistent gratitude practice as boosting self-esteem, improving sleep, increasing resilience, and enhancing memories (see his blog post).
Questions for you to ponder:
Where in my mind do I need renewal?
What aspect of my mindset needs nurturing?
Are these thoughts or beliefs my own? Or were they taught/give to me by someone else?
What are 3 things that I am grateful for today?
Can I write these down or speak them out loud?
How am I currently feeding my mind?
What am I feeding it?
What am I reading, listening to, or watching regularly?
I choose to live, believe, and nurture both a growth and an abundance mindset. I have a daily gratitude practice and a daily prayer practice that help me to cultivate and to strengthen these mindsets and ways of being. I strive to be in relationship with those that have or are working towards a growth mindset and an abundance mindset as well. Renewal of the mind takes intentional effort.
Something that I find interesting and have observed over the years is the ability to have a growth mindset, yet be in a scarcity mindset. When you are able to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and be inspired by others but still think small and act in fear, you remain in a scarcity mindset. I have seen many people living in this space and it is only through taking personal responsibility and action on one’s own that you can bring yourself from scarcity into abundance. This is something I continue to work on as well.
Like many things in life, it is a personal choice. No one can force you there, no matter how hard they try. It takes work to transform old beliefs and rewire new thought patterns to renew your mind and mindset.
Additional questions to answer:
Am I acting from a fixed or a growth mindset? What do I truly believe about myself and others?
Do I approach life with a scarcity or an abundance mindset?
Does this differ in my relationships, in my career, in my finances, in my health, etc.?
What is one area of my life that I can work with today to shift into a new belief?
Lastly, here are some affirmations to assist you in transforming your beliefs. When it comes to affirmations, they only work when they are believable. If they are so far-fetched, it probably won’t work. So try these on, see if they feel good and if not, come up with one or multiple that feel true to you right now. As you expand your mind and beliefs, you can elevate your affirmations and intentions to expand with you.
Abundance affirmations:
I am aligned with the energy of abundance.
I am worthy of the abundance that I want to call into my life.
I attract the ___ (relationships, friendships, partnership) that I desire.
I believe there is enough ___ (love, money, joy, food, success) for everyone.
Thanks for making it all the way through this one :)
Cheers to expanding our potential and elevating our mindsets. Love you always!
xo,
Megan C
