Growth Mindset and overcoming failure

When I meet someone who has a growth mindset I feel very inspired. It is a great cue when I hear the phrase “I really love what I do”. This statement lets me know the person might have or is developing a Growth Mindset but today I would like to submit it for a test.

The simple question would be, “What is something that you do that excites you so much, that you would still love it if you really sucked and failed at it?

Failures and success are temporary states

The notion of motivation and discipline are two concepts that have been losing importance for me during the last couple of years. Motivation is normally a boost of energy that wears out sooner or later, it might come back later but it is not reliable in order to stay focused on our goals.

In the other hand, discipline reminds me of those very difficult and “sad” moments when I was told to do something even if I didn’t feel like doing it, which actually is a very useful skill to have once you are confronted with the very raw facts and dynamics of adulthood life, but now a days we know there are so many alternatives to choose from when deciding what to study, where to work, where to live and so on; that this archaic concept of discipline does not fulfill our soul.

What is that, which will give us the energy and strength to make progress and advance towards our dreams and objectives, no matter what the stage we are at or the circumstances we find ourselves in?

I truly believe it is the ability to feel successful, happy, and fulfilled even if whatever we are doing at that moment is not going the right way or even if it is completely failing.

First of all, because as it is the case regarding anything in life; we better make sure to understand that this failing stage is not going to last forever. If we are able to enjoy the process, to observe and analyse the data we obtain and to maintain our focus as we breathe out the failure, we will learn, and the we will make a bit of progress and that will be just fine, because we are moving forward and then we will patiently continue to show up and perform with the energy and attitude that will for sure make things right for us and for the things we do and love.

It is very important to be able to make a statement

For some this exercise will be very simple, for others like me, will be a little bit more difficult, the good news is that this statement doesn´t need to be written on stone, it can be getting more specific as you give it more time to set. In my case I know that I am very excited to learn, share knowledge and information as well as build strong projects with remarkable people and I will always love it, even if I am failing at it.

For the next months or years I know this statement will be getting more specific and I am really curious to find out where it will get me, because if I develop the skill to transition the failing stages while feeling good about myself I can’t foresee any obstacles that will be so great or threatening that will stop me from achieving my goals and making my dreams come true, from the little things I truly enjoy about life on a daily basis to those huge goals that will be part of my life, enabling larger and scarier new goals to appear and materialize.

What about you?

I will be really happy to read what is that thing that excites you so much that you would actually continue doing and loving even if you failed at it. Write it down in the comments section and please continue to ask this question to the people you love and care for, maybe even share this post with them and start a conversation about it.