#59 Entity Mindset vs Incremental Mindset

ByLukas
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Do you believe you’re good at something solely because of talent, invalidating all the work you’re putting in?

Or do you believe you can change the course of your life, and let your daily actions shape who you are?

The American psychologist and author of the book “Mindset” Carol Dweck describes how the way you think about your abilities can make or break your success in life:

  • Entity (fixed) mindset: “I’m good at languages, I’m bad at math”
  • Incremental (growth) mindset: “I worked hard on this, I’m learning, I’m discovering how to do this”

An entity mindset makes you run into a wall

When things get tough, people with an entity mindset often give up, because they don’t truly believe they can get much better.

After all,I if you believe it’s all about innate ability, then why make any effort to develop strengths or weaknesses?

An entity mindset also leads to fear of failure and perfectionism. If you’re believed to have an innate, fixed talent that’s set in stone, you’ll constantly need to live up to an unreasonably high standard for that particular talent.

An incremental mindset makes you thrive

People with an incremental mindset, on the other hand, thrive in tough situations: they know that through perseverance and a focus on daily practice and perseverance they can develop their skills and talents.

Even if predisposition plays an important role, switching to an incremental mindset will always make you feel better about yourself and your daily actions.

And while education and childhood experiences have a large impact on your mindset – you can always change your mind – by changing your actions.

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    Maybe we all are – so we might as well make laziness the key to building habits.

    I write only one short daily post because I know I won’t stick to writing long-form posts – and when I feel like writing long-form, it doesn’t feel like an obligation but a treat. Laziness built the writing habit, and laziness makes me feel good when I write more.

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    #32 Before I learned not to listen

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    Before I learned not to listen
    I would stand
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    but secretly swaying
    swallowed up by a willow tree
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    Before I learned not to listen
    I would hold my head against the rind
    reach
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    the way it has always felt best
    cheek pressed to chest

    Before I learned not to listen
    a breeze in the leaves
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    making my eyes answer
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    Before I learned not to listen
    a rolling thunder
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    would rumble from my cheek to my ear
    replacing my fear
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    Before I learned not to listen
    before the lust for language
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    and sense within
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    Before I learned not to listen
    I would accept
    that once upon a time
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    Lukas Van Vyve

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    Because the more you practice rebounding back to good habits after taking time off, the easier it becomes to take time off without guilt and fear.

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    #197 Reminders upon reminders upon reminders

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    Intentional living is about reminding yourself of what’s most important to you.

    Reminding yourself that you can choose to be a writer, a runner, a musician, an artist, or a bon vivant.

    Reminding yourself that you can choose to be kind to others.

    Reminding yourself that you have a choice to act differently.

    Reminding yourself that the past does not equal the future.

    Reminding yourself that this, too, shall pass.

    Reminding yourself that at any given moment, whatever reminder you need the most, you likely won’t think of yourself.

    Reminding yourself that for this reason, it’s OK to get help and let someone else remind you with short daily notes.

    And me, reminding myself that the act of writing daily reminders for you is the reminder I need to remember that I do, in fact, choose to be consistent, and I choose to be a writer.

    Reminders upon reminders upon reminders that we will constantly get distracted, and we will always have the choice to come back to what truly matters.

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