As a mental performance coach, one of the most powerful shifts I see in athletes, professionals, and everyday individuals is when they begin to understand the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. This single awareness can change how you approach challenges, setbacks, and even your own potential.

What’s the Difference?

• ​ Fixed Mindset: Believes abilities, intelligence, and talent are static. Thoughts sound like, “I’m just not good at this,” or “That person is naturally talented, and I’ll never catch up.”​

• ​ Growth Mindset: Believes skills and abilities can be developed through effort, practice, and learning. Thoughts sound like, “I’m not there yet, but I can improve with effort,” or “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.”​

The mindset you adopt influences how you see the world. If you operate from a fixed mindset, failure feels permanent and discouraging. If you approach life with a growth mindset, failure becomes feedback—a teacher that guides you forward.

Why Does This Matter for Performance?

Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, a student, or a business leader, your mindset is the lens through which you interpret experiences.

• ​ A fixed mindset keeps you stuck. You avoid challenges, fear mistakes, and give up more quickly when things get tough.​

• ​ A growth mindset fuels resilience. You embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and ultimately achieve more because you see effort as the path to mastery.​

The truth is, talent and intelligence do matter—but mindset determines how far your abilities can actually take you.

Becoming More Aware of Your Mindset

Awareness is the first step. Here are a few practical ways to check in with yourself:

1.​ Listen to Your Self-Talk​

○​  Fixed: “I can’t do this.”​

○​  Growth: “I can’t do this yet.”​

2.​ Notice How You Handle Setbacks​

○​  Fixed: “I failed, so I’m not good enough.”​

○​  Growth: “I failed, so now I know what to work on.”​

3.​ Pay Attention to How You See Others’ Success​

○​  Fixed: “They’re just naturally better than me.”​

○​  Growth: “Their success shows what’s possible. I can learn from them.”​

A Practical Exercise

This week, keep a “mindset journal.” Anytime you face a challenge or setback, write down your first reaction. Then rewrite it with a growth mindset perspective. Over time, you’ll start catching these thoughts in the moment—and reshaping them.

For example:

• ​ Original: “I’ll never be good at presentations.”​

• ​ Reframed: “I struggle with presentations now, but with practice and feedback, I can improve.”​

Final Thought

Your mindset is not fixed—it’s flexible. You have the ability to shift the way you see yourself and your abilities. The more you train your brain to think with a growth mindset, the more resilient, confident, and successful you’ll become.

The question to ask yourself isn’t “Am I talented enough?” but rather “Am I willing to learn, practice, and grow?”