This is one of the most important books I have ever read. Based on what I learned from Mindset, I feel equipped to reach some of those goals that have eluded me for years. And, as a mother, I have some new tools for parenting my boys so they embrace challenges and are prepared for any obstacles that come their way. Read below for a “taste” of what I learned.
Are you a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Maybe you have no idea which mindset you might be, and you wonder why you should care. But I assure you that the concept of mindset may be a game changer for you in almost anything and everything that you do.
The book, Mindset, by Carol Dweck, was suggested reading from my son’s 2nd grade teacher. But this is not a book about parenting. And the concept of “mindset” is just as important for adults as it is children.
The two different types of mindset:
The fixed mindset believes that your qualities are carved in stone. We are each born with a fixed intelligence, capabilities, a certain type of personality and character. These things cannot be changed.
A growth mindset believes that your basic qualities are things you cultivate through your efforts. They believe that a person’s true potential is unknown (and unknowable) because it is impossible to forsee what years of passion, toil and training will accomplish.
To further the explanation, I will summarize an example that was in the book: One day you go to a class that is really important to you and you really enjoy. The professor returns midterm papers to the class and you got a C+. Is your initial reaction that you are stupid or you like the class less? Or, does this grade motivate you to study harder for the next exam in hopes of getting a better result?
Now take that example and apply it to a situation in your life where your results were less than optimal. Did you quit that activity or start liking it less? Or did you rethink the situation and find a way to achieve better results? Continue reading
The Help by Kathryn Sockett. This was an amazing read and I found it hard to put this book down. The story takes the reader back to the early 60′s in the deep south. It is hard to believe that in such recent history there was still a great deal of prejudice and racial tension in pockets of the world. The story is told from the perspective of several different women whose lives are intertwined. This is an intense story of how these different women deal with the issue of racism during the civil rights movement. I felt myself getting personally involved in pulling for some of the characters while despising others…all as a result of the skillful writing. I can’t say too much about the book, because I don’t want to spoil the story and outcome. Pick it up and see if you feel as strongly as I did once I finished.
The book: Is there Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell is an amazing book for children aged 3-10. Each time I read it, I realize that this is a great book for adults as well as children. I particularly like the following passages:
