The Power of Yet Developing a Mindset for Success
Goal setting is a characteristic that significantly links an individual to their future success. Having the right mindset is crucial and encourages our behaviors as we encounter different challenges.
Since our attitude incorporates our own beliefs about skills and abilities that we possess, we must have a growth mindset and teach children its power. Simple yet effective tactics will help children become more confident, resilient, and persistent in their drive to reach goals.
Carol Dweck, a psychologist, developed the theory of the fixed and growth mindsets in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” She explains a fixed mindset is one where students believe their necessary abilities, talents, and intelligence cannot improve.
These students find it hard to cope with failure and don’t take as many risks. She describes a growth mindset in which students know their abilities, talents, and intelligence will be improved through effort, persistence, and good teaching. These students continue to work hard in the face of challenges and setbacks. Within the growth mindset approach, Dr. Dweck coined the phrase “the power of yet.”
The idea is that adding the word “yet” to the end of a sentence that contains the following words:
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“can’t”
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“don’t
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“doesn’t”
can drastically improve the realization that skills can take time to achieve, but that it is possible. A statement such as “I don’t understand this” changes a fixed mindset statement to a growth mindset statement by merely adding “yet” to the end of it.
The understanding that a person’s effort and passion for a goal is as important as attaining this goal is the key. Just as we aren’t born knowing how to play the violin, a “can do” attitude and grit are an excellent combination for success towards any goal that we choose.
To teach children the value of persistence and perseverance, we must praise their efforts and “stick-to-it-ness.” Teaching them to appreciate challenges and accept that mistakes will happen while also encouraging tenacity empowers them to influence the experience’s result. This concept will build their confidence and give them the courage to try new things.
The SKILLZ Child Development Centers offer a supportive environment that applies the growth mindset approach. The Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialists reinforce positive behaviors such as effort and perseverance to build intrinsic motivation. Therefore, students feel confident taking risks and making mistakes because they understand that we learn best when challenged. Forming a growth mindset at an early age is crucial for future success and happiness.
By shifting our mindset now, we become role models to our children by teaching them that things often take time to accomplish but with perseverance, they can achieve their goals. This understanding empowers them so they, therefore, try harder and take more risks in the future.
This “power of yet” is an infusion of hope into future generations.