“In the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail—or if you’re not the best—it’s all been wasted. The growth mindset allows people to value what they’re doing regardless of the outcome . They’re tackling problems, charting new courses, working on important issues. Maybe they haven’t found the cure for cancer, but the search was deeply meaningful.”
― Carol S. Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Mindset is a huge part of our daily lives and playing the game of basketball. Depending on the mindset that we adopt, we can either enjoy the journey and develop our skills or we can be threatened by the journey and shy away from our true potential. We can fiercely dive into the greatness within us or we can be paralyzed by the fear of failure. What determines which option we choose? Our mindsets.
Mindsets: Insecurity vs Security
It’s hard not to get too wrapped up in what we do because we tend to think that our self-worth comes from how we perform or how we look. But, if we believe this, then we will be more scared to make mistakes and the more we will be threatened by challenges because we think so much is on the line. Instead of enjoying life and the game of basketball, we will be more anxious and insecure because we think our appearance determines our identity. However, if we think and believe that our worth is deeper and does not come from how we perform in a basketball game or how we look to others, then we will be more free when we play and secure in who we are in our daily lives. These two main mindsets are: 1) Fixed Mindset 2) Growth Mindset.
A person with a fixed mindset wants to look good and achieve success. They take things very personally and blame others for their mistakes. These people look for the easiest person to guard because they don’t want to look bad and their mood and effort and level depends upon the results. They give up if things don’t go their way.
A person with a growth mindset wants to learn and develop their game. They ask for feedback because they want to improve and take responsibility for their actions. These people seek out challenges to push themselves out of their comfort zones. They understand that making mistakes is part of the process of getting better. They work hard at all times and push others to become their best.
Final Thoughts
Which player would you rather be? Which player would you rather have on your team? When we adopt the growth mindset, we understand that results are a byproduct of focusing on our development rather than external success. At the end of the day, the person with a growth mindset knows that the game of basketball helps them become a better person and their identity is not tied to their performance. This gives them the freedom to play and live with creative energy and joy.
