I’m sprawled on my couch in this tiny-ass apartment in Philly, growth mindset on my brain, surrounded by takeout containers and a laptop that’s wheezing like it’s got asthma. Like, teaching yourself a growth mindset? It sounds so simple, but it’s messy as hell. I mean, it’s this whole deal about believing you can get better at stuff, even when you’re screwing up left and right. I read about it in Carol Dweck’s book—she’s, like, the queen of this stuff—and it kinda flipped my world. But, real talk, I’m no expert. I’m just a dude fumbling through, and I’ve got some cringey stories to share.
## Why I Got Hooked on This Growth Mindset Thing
So, picture me last week, in a noisy Starbucks, my coffee’s gone cold, and I’m freaking out about a job application I know I’m gonna tank. That’s my old fixed mindset screaming, “You’re trash at this, bro, give up.” I used to think you’re either born good at something or you’re doomed. Then I watched Dweck’s TED Talk, and it was like, whoa, maybe I can learn to not suck? It’s all about thinking you can grow, even if you’re starting from zero. I was skeptical as hell, but I figured I’d give it a whirl.
## My Epic Fail at Embracing a Growth Mindset
Okay, so I decided to test this growth mindset crap by learning to bake bread. Disaster city. I’m in my kitchen, flour everywhere, and my dough looks like a sad, deflated tire. I’m yelling at it like, “Why you gotta betray me, man?” I was ready to chuck it and say, “I ain’t a baker.” But then I remembered that “yet” thing from Dweck. I wasn’t good at baking yet. So, I watched a YouTube video from Bon Appétit and tried again. It was still a mess, but the bread was edible-ish. Progress, right?
Here’s what I figured out:
- Mistakes are your homies. Every lumpy loaf taught me something.
- Say “yet” like you mean it. It’s cheesy, but “I’m not good at this yet” keeps you going.
- Celebrate the small stuff. I legit danced when my bread didn’t taste like cardboard.
## Teaching Others a Growth Mindset (Without Being That Guy)
Trying to teach others a growth mindset? Oof, tricky. My sister, Jess, she’s all, “I’m not creative, never will be.” We’re at this dive bar, jukebox blaring some 80s nonsense, and I’m doodling on a coaster, trying to convince her she’s wrong. I’m like, “Jess, you’re not not creative—you just haven’t found your vibe yet.” I sent her to Skillshare for some art classes, and we bet a pizza she’d stick with it for a month. She’s sketching now, and it’s not half bad. Teaching this stuff is about meeting people where they’re at.
My tips for teaching a growth mindset:
- Don’t be a preachy jerk. Share your own screw-ups first, like my bread-tastrophe.
- Make it personal. Tie it to something they love—Jess wants to design her own tattoos.
- Point to cool resources. Sites like Edutopia have dope growth mindset tips.
## When Growth Mindset Feels Like BS
Alright, let’s be real: sometimes a growth mindset feels like a scam. Like, yesterday, I’m stuck in traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway, stressing about a freelance pitch I totally flubbed. I’m muttering “growth mindset, keep learning,” but inside, I’m like, “This is stupid, I’m a fraud.” That’s the thing—it’s not about being happy-clappy all the time. It’s about dragging yourself through the muck. I re-read this Forbes article and it reminded me: even pros struggle with this. You just gotta keep swinging.
## How I’m Still Figuring Out This Growth Mindset
I’m no guru, okay? My desk’s a warzone—sticky notes with “You’ll get there!” and “Don’t suck!” in mustard yellow, ‘cause I’m still doubting myself 24/7. But I’ve got some hacks:
- Write down your fails. I jot every mistake in a notebook. It’s embarrassing but keeps me honest.
- Find your hype squad. Jess sends me dumb motivational GIFs, and it weirdly helps.
- Steal from smart people. I keep looping this RSA Animate video for growth mindset inspo.
## Wrapping Up My Growth Mindset Ramble
Look, teaching yourself a growth mindset—and passing it on—is like trying to untangle Christmas lights. It’s messy, you’ll cuss, but you’ll get there. I’m still learning, still bombing, but I’m also still trying. If I can do it, you can too. Grab a pen, write down something you suck at, and slap a “yet” on it. See what happens. Slide into my DMs on X and lemme know how it goes—I’m nosy like that!
