“Brave enough to suck at something new.” is attributed to Jon Acuff. However, the quote reminded me of Carol Dweck’s research and books on failure and growth mindset. I modified it to read, Brave enough to fail at something new.
These concepts have been top of mind for me lately as I engage in graduate study of Genetic 🧬 Counseling. While I love to learn, the process of receiving clinical/medical feedback is intense. I receive regular, critical feedback on my performance. Each error pulls me deeper into a fixed mindset.
Fortunately, as things tend to do, an article in the new Junior League magazine, The League Life, provided some well timed reflections on growth mindset and failure.
From The League Life “Failure is Not a Dirty Word” by Jacquelyn Bauman
“So how do you flip the script when it feels like outside judgments are forcing you into a fixed mindset?
You need to start with your internal perceptions. The first thing to do is to grant yourself grace - you have failed, you are not a failure. When you feel those labeling and all-or-nothing cognitive distortions coming one, challenge those internal thoughts with evidence to the contrary. If you attempt to do something and do not achieve your goal, instead of thinking, “I am a failure,” prove that cognitive distortion wrong by remembering the times you DID achieve what you set out to do.
Look for takeaways from your current situation that you may be able to use in the future to achieve a different outcome. Use [Carol] Dwek’s concept of the “Power of Yet.” I did not achieve my goal, yet. I am not a leader, yet. By reframing accomplishment as an ever moving target as opposed to an attribute of character, we are able to achieve that growth mindset.” (Link to the full article)
