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Hi Team,

I devoted the last two Weekly Emails to discussing the life enhancing trait of a growth mindset. Now that we all have a good understanding of what a growth mindset is and why it's important, how does this all apply to your life in the real world?? 

"When something bad happens, you have three choices - you can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you." Unknown

If you have a growth mindset, setbacks or failures are still painful experiences. But your confidence and optimism allow you to know that these difficulties do not define you. Therefore, you are able to face the problem head on, take action to deal with the problem and learn from the experience. Highly effective people have a special talent for turning setbacks into future success.

Developing this type of positive mindset is particularly important for school age children. Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, has conducted numerous studies involving underprivileged schools in America and has had great success in changing attitudes towards learning difficulties and the mindset of students. Below is a short extract from her most recent book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" where she shares "The power of Not Yet".

"I heard about a high school in Chicago where students had to pass a certain number of courses to graduate, and if they didn’t pass a course, they got the grade “Not Yet.” And I thought that was fantastic, because if you get a failing grade, you think, I’m nothing, I’m nowhere. But if you get the grade “Not Yet” you understand that you’re on a learning curve. It gives you a path into the future."

The two words "Not Yet" have the power to change your mindset. If you are told, not yet, you are given the opportunity to try again and to gain confidence through practice. These two words can also serve as motivation to try harder and to persist until you succeed. Dweck's sound teaching advice is "don't praise intelligence or talent - praise the work and praise the process."

"If life knocks you down, roll over and look at the stars." unknown

PS: To learn more about developing a growth mindset in children, I recommend watching Carol Dweck's Ted Talk video using the link below.

https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en

Thanks for reading,
Stay safe and praise hard work.
David