27A

I went over Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential, by Carol Dweck. This was a powerful book that discussed the power of people’s beliefs. Everything we think and do is shaped by our beliefs, and there is a specific belief within you that has been guiding you throughout each and every part of the life which emasculates you. The novel is based off of years of research and includes numerous examples, many from the author’s own life.

This book greatly enhanced what I was learning in this class, and, to be honest, very well might be the best book that I’ve had to read since starting school at the University of Florida. His science is gripping, his tales are moving and often funny (some even using celebrity names, like Tiger Woods), his writing is relaxed and personal. The only reason I had picked this book was because it was highlighted on the reading list, but it surprised me and took me by the hand. I started it last night and couldn’t put it down. I usually hate reading books on my computer, but I honestly didn’t mind this one.

Sorry for the review, I’ll get back on track now. As I said before, it greatly enhanced what I was learning in this class, and goes along well with both failure and trial-and-error. It makes you take a good look at yourself and your past to see what truly affects you in your life, and I feel that I am more improved after having read it. The fixed vs. growth mindset, which describes the two mindsets most people have, was especially intriguing to me. I mostly viewed myself as a fixed-mindset person, but I sort of realized, early on in the book, that I can change myself and my mindset to be more growing. I can work on myself, change what I do and who I am, and keep growing. It was all very exciting! People with the growth mindset thrive and accept failure especially well, which is a great trait to have.

Perhaps a sort of a-ha moment was Carol’s comment that we always keep a running account of what’s happening to us at any given moment. Our minds constantly monitor what’s going on and interpret the world. It made me realize how much our minds do, and these sensory inputs and such can lead to numerous responses, such as anxiety, anger, ease, depression, excitement, etc. I had never thought too much into that before, but it was really cool to read.

If I had to design an exercise of some sort, it would be as follows. Each person in the class would have to label themselves as either a “growth” or “fixed” mindset-type person. It would be an ongoing assignment, and at the beginning of the semester they would declare themselves to be either one or the other, and comment on what they could do to change themselves and better themselves in thinking. Throughout the semester, they would keep a log and update it every week, discussing what they did to change themselves that week, and how they felt they grew as a person. At the end of the semester, they would have a reflection and look upon themselves as either a changed person or the same. It’d be fun and easy!