7 Growth Mindset Activities to Boost Your Success
You’ve probably heard a lot about the “growth mindset” lately, right? It seems like everyone’s talking about how having this mindset can transform your life, your career, your relationships—pretty much everything. But what exactly is it? And, more importantly, how can you start developing it?
What is a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that you can get better at something through effort, learning, and persistence. In other words, your abilities aren’t fixed in stone—they’re more like a muscle. The more you work on them, the stronger they get. And here’s the best part: you don’t have to be a genius or have any special talent to improve.
This article is all about growth mindset activities that can help you tap into that potential, no matter where you’re starting from. Let’s dive into some super simple but powerful activities to kickstart your growth mindset journey.
Let’s Look At These Growth Mindset Activities
1. Embrace Challenges—Don’t Run from Them
When you think about it, challenges are like brain workouts. Every time you face a tough situation and stick with it, you’re training your brain to get stronger. I’m talking about those moments when things get hard—whether it’s a tricky math problem, learning a new skill at work, or just dealing with a difficult situation in life.
Here’s a relatable example. Picture a CEO who’s leading a company that just isn’t making the numbers it needs to. It would be easy for them to throw their hands up and say, “This is impossible.” But instead, they take a step back and ask, “What can I learn from this?” They start experimenting with new strategies, asking for feedback, and tweaking their approach until, bit by bit, they turn things around.
Growth mindset activity: The next time you hit a challenge—big or small—try telling yourself, “This is hard, but I can figure it out.” Write down three possible solutions. Even if they seem ridiculous at first, just getting your brain in problem-solving mode is a win.
2. Focus on Effort, Not Results
We’ve all been there—feeling frustrated because we’re not seeing the results we want right away. Whether it’s trying to learn a new instrument, running a business, or even just improving your grades, it’s easy to get hung up on the final outcome. But here’s the trick: what matters most is the effort you put in, not the results you get.
I know, I know—this sounds a bit counterintuitive. After all, who doesn’t want great results? But focusing too much on the end game can mess with your head, especially when things don’t go as planned. If you only care about results, you might give up too soon. A growth mindset means seeing value in the process itself. That’s where the magic happens.
Growth mindset activity: At the end of each day, take a moment to write down something you worked hard on, regardless of the outcome. It could be anything—like practicing a skill, pushing through a tough project, or even trying out a new recipe. The point is to recognize and celebrate the effort you put in, not just the end result.
3. Switch “I Can’t” to “I Can’t… Yet”
Out of all the growth mindset activities, this one’s a game-changer. Think about how often we say things like, “I’m just not good at math,” or “I can’t speak another language.” These are limiting beliefs, plain and simple. They box us in and keep us from trying. But when you add just one word—“yet”—everything shifts. “I can’t do this… yet” keeps the door open for learning and growing.
Let’s take a fictional story about an entrepreneur who launches their first startup. It doesn’t take off. At this point, they could easily throw in the towel and think, “I’m just not cut out for this.” But instead, they say, “I haven’t succeeded… yet.” They learn from their mistakes, build a new company, and, eventually, they find success. It’s the power of that “yet” that keeps them moving forward.
Growth mindset activity: Catch yourself whenever you think or say, “I can’t.” Then, immediately add “yet” to the end of that sentence. Try it with simple things like “I can’t cook… yet,” or “I’m not great at public speaking… yet.” You’ll be surprised how much this tiny shift can change your outlook.
4. Learn from Criticism—Don’t Take It Personally
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a tough time dealing with criticism. Yeah, me too. It’s hard not to take it personally when someone points out something we could improve. But here’s the thing: when you’re in a growth mindset, you start seeing criticism as a tool for learning rather than an attack on who you are.
Imagine a top executive who gets called out for their leadership style. They could get defensive, but instead, they choose to listen carefully. They realize that there’s a lot they can learn from the feedback, and instead of shutting down, they adjust how they lead. Over time, they build a stronger, more cohesive team. That’s the power of turning criticism into growth.
Growth mindset activity: The next time you receive some criticism, take a deep breath and ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Write down one action you can take to improve based on the feedback. It might be something small, but even tiny improvements are part of the process.
5. Surround Yourself with a Growth-Minded Squad
Ever notice how the people you spend time with can influence your mindset? If you’re constantly surrounded by negative people who always see the worst in every situation, it’s easy to fall into that trap yourself. But if you hang out with people who are curious, open to learning, and excited about growing, their energy rubs off on you.
Think about athletes who push each other to train harder, or entrepreneurs who share ideas and motivate each other to take risks. When you have a support system that embraces a growth mindset, it becomes easier to stay on track with your own personal growth.
Growth mindset activity: Take a quick inventory of the people you spend the most time with. Are they lifting you up or pulling you down? If it’s the latter, consider finding some new connections who share your growth goals. Join groups, forums, or even book clubs that focus on learning and self-improvement.
6. Celebrate the Wins—Even the Small Ones
We’re often so focused on what’s next that we forget to celebrate what we’ve already achieved. One of the key principles of a growth mindset is recognizing progress, no matter how small it seems. Every little win is a step forward, and that momentum is what fuels bigger successes over time.
Think about a person who’s training for a marathon. They might start by only being able to run a mile, but every time they add an extra mile, they celebrate that victory. Over time, those small wins add up to the ultimate goal—crossing the finish line. The same goes for personal growth. Every tiny step counts.
Growth mindset activity: At the end of each week, make a list of three small wins you’ve had. They don’t have to be monumental—maybe you learned something new, pushed through a tough moment, or made a little progress on a big project. The goal here is to recognize your efforts and keep the positive momentum going.
7. Embrace the Power of “Yet”
We touched on this earlier, but let’s dig deeper. One of the most powerful words you can introduce into your vocabulary is “yet.” It transforms fixed-mindset thinking into something full of possibilities. By saying “yet,” you’re reminding yourself that you’re still on a journey. You’re not stuck where you are. You’re growing, learning, and improving every single day.
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve hit a wall with something—whether it’s at school, at work, or in life—just try using “yet” at the end of your sentences. It can open up a whole new perspective.
Wrapping Up Growth Mindset Activities
Remember, a growth mindset isn’t about being perfect or never failing. It’s about embracing the process, learning from mistakes, and believing that you can get better over time. As you go through your day, start paying attention to the moments when you can apply these activities. You might be surprised at how quickly things start to shift in a more positive direction.
In the words of Carol Dweck, the pioneer of the growth mindset idea: “Love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.” So, go ahead and take that first step—your future self will thank you.
