Written by Katerina Rose, Performance and Life Coach (EMCC)
from Stepping Stones Life Coaching

Imagine if we were born with a handbook on how to make the most of our miraculous brains. I often wonder how many of us feel we have maximised our potential during our lifetimes.

At various points in our lives, we may question ourselves. Is my career path right for me, or as a parent, is my child experiencing me at my best? Are my relationships positive? What about my social life? Arts? Sports? Am I enjoying my pastimes and performing to the best of my ability? Is my life meaningful? These are all valid questions, and for over 25 years, I have been working with people to help them find their answers.

Our brains are geared up to help us achieve what we focus on, which sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Unless we are also aware that we have an unconscious safety mechanism built into our brains that emphasises negative information designed for survival, helping our ancestors avoid danger. This negativity bias can have a dramatic effect on us, for instance in a news feed, the bad news might capture our attention more than the good news or we may avoid taking risks or trying new things due to a disproportionate focus on negative consequences.

Alongside this, differences in our attitudes can have dramatic effects on our decisions, actions, and ultimately our lives. Fortunately for us, recent research into human psychology has enabled us to appreciate the significance of mindsets in our lives, as well as changing how we think so we can flourish. Some people tend to have a ‘fixed mind- set’: they may avoid challenges for fear of failing or looking foolish. Others have a ‘growth mindset’ and embrace challenges in the desire to learn and grow.

It is useful to note that most of us have a mixed mindset, we may for instance be fixed when it comes to our ability to sing or draw, believing that we will never be good at it, and simultaneously have a growth mindset in the context of our career, knowing that we can apply ourselves to acquiring knowledge and learning new skills to enable us to succeed.

Evidence suggests that adopting a growth mindset can significantly enhance quality of life, leading to lower levels of depression, better adjustment to challenges, improved academic and professional performance, and a more positive outlook on life. By viewing challenges as opportunities, individuals with a growth mindset are more adaptable, motivated, and persistent, resulting in long-term benefits and greater overall well-being. There are many examples of inventors, athletes, and businesspeople who have demonstrated that despite not having the best of starts or having had major setbacks, they have been able to show the power of the mind.

Jo Malone, the renowned British perfumer and businesswoman, left school at a young age to care for her mother. She started her business from her kitchen, developing unique fragrances and growing her business through creativity and perseverance. She faced significant challenges after selling her first fragrance brand, Jo Malone London, to Estée Lauder. Instead of being discouraged by the loss of her brand and name, Malone took this setback as an opportunity to reinvent herself. She took a five-year break to rediscover her identity and life purpose. During this time, she battled breast cancer, losing her sense of smell, so crucial for her as a perfumer. Despite these obstacles, Malone remained resilient. She launched a new brand, Jo Loves, and continued to innovate in the fragrance industry. Her abilities to adapt, learn from her experiences, and persist in the face of adversity exemplify a growth mindset. Malone’s story shows how embracing challenges and continuously striving for improvement can lead to new opportunities and success.

What sets high achievers apart is their tendency to see failure as an opportunity to learn and another stepping stone to achieving what they want.

Evidence suggests that adopting a growth mindset can significantly enhance quality of life, leading to lower levels of depression, better adjustment to challenges, improved academic and professional performance, and a more positive outlook on life.

Fortunately, embracing a growth mindset involves specific, practical steps that can be incorporated into daily life. Here are some tips to help develop and maintain a growth mindset and unlock the power of your mind:

Visualise success: Imagine yourself achieving your goals and the steps you took to get there. Visualisation can help you stay motivated and focused on your growth journey.

Set learning goals: Instead of setting performance-based goals (like getting an A or winning a game), set goals that focus on learning and improvement (like understanding a topic thoroughly or improving a skill).

Embrace challenges: View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow rather than obstacles. Accept that difficult tasks are a part of the learning process.

Persist in the face of setbacks: When you encounter setbacks, don’t give up. Use these experiences as learning opportunities, stay committed to your goals.

Celebrate effort, not just results: Focus on the process and the effort you put in, rather than just the outcomes. Recognise and reward hard work and persistence.

By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can foster a growth mindset and begin to unlock the power of your brain. If you’d like to discuss any of these tips in more detail, feel free to let me know!