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- How to Unf*ck Your Mind
Happy Tuesday and Welcome back to… THE JAILBREAK.
(along with 650+ readers 🗝️ )
If you’re reading this, your life is probably a little bit… F*cked.
Whether you’re stuck in a rut mentally, neglecting your physical health, letting your relationships deteriorate, or even just lacking clarity over what you want in life, you’re not alone.
When you’re feeling down like this, it’s hard to make massive life changes like a lot of writing on this topic tells you to do.
It's like being told to climb a mountain when you can barely get out of bed.
Sometimes, the key isn't in dramatic actions - sometimes you just need to fix your own head. 🧠
Today, we’re focusing on the mindset that changed my life: Growth Mindset. 🌱
Growth Mindset:
This concept, coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is as absolutely life-changing as it is simple.
In a nutshell, having a Growth Mindset means believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed over time. ⏳️
It's the opposite of a Fixed Mindset, where you might think, 'I'm just not good at this, and I never will be.'
Instead, with a Growth Mindset, you adopt the belief that 'I may not be good at this yet, but I can improve with effort and persistence.'
Pretty simple right?
There are of course people out there who are born to shred the guitar, dominate the basketball court, or confidently talk circles around anybody they come across…
But most of the people who are MASTERS of a skill like this… weren’t born with it.
Most likely there was one day when they woke up and thought:
“I don’t know how to do this, but I see that other people have figured this out — that means that I can do this as long as I put in the same work that they did.”
You can also immediately tell who doesn’t have a growth mindset because they’ll see someone doing something impressive like playing a beautiful piece of music on the piano and go:
“Wow! You’re so talented! You’re a natural! I could never learn how to do that.”
Yeah, you could…
They weren’t playing Mozart in the womb! They grinded the skill until they got good.
Talent is overrated.
Growth is underrated.
Why Growth Mindset Matters:
Why is this mindset so powerful? Well, fundamentally, growth mindset changes how you face challenges and setbacks.
Instead of seeing them as insurmountable or proof of your limitations, you view them as opportunities to learn and grow EVERY TIME you encounter something beyond your abilities.
This shift in perspective can be life-changing.
Studies have shown that people with a Growth Mindset are more resilient, more motivated, and more likely to achieve their goals.
Think about that… 🤯
Growth mindset makes people more likely to achieve their goals - just by thinking about it.
People with a growth mindset are not deterred by failure; they're inspired by it.
Real-World Impact:
J.K. Rowling posting her rejection letters from publishers
J.K. Rowling, the now world-renowned author, was rejected by multiple publishers before finally getting Harry Potter published.
Or Thomas Edison, who famously said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways of not making this f*cking lightbulb work!”
These are classic examples of a Growth Mindset in action – seeing each rejection, each failure, not as a defeat but as a step closer to success.
Growth mindset changed my life too.
I wanted to make YouTube videos since I was 10 years old.
A few years ago, I didn’t know how to edit, didn’t know how to write without sounding like absolute garbage, and honestly, I barely knew how to use a camera. 😥
Then I discovered growth mindset.
I realized, huh… all of the creators I love to watch and previously thought I could never be like — started in the exact same spot as me!
Why can’t I do it too? 🤔
Over the next 3 years, I tried and failed over and over again with an emphasis on one thing: Growth.
Now, I know all of these skills, make videos that I think are actually valuable to people, and have even made money from doing what I love.
I owe it all to this mindset.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset:
Here are 5 quick tips for cultivating a growth mindset and changing that internal narrative in your head.
Embrace Challenges: When you're faced with something tough, instead of thinking, 'I can't do this,' tell yourself, 'I can't do this yet.'
Learn from Criticism: Instead of getting defensive, see feedback as a valuable tool for improvement.
Celebrate Effort, Not Just Success: Acknowledge your hard work and persistence, even if the outcome isn't what you hoped for.
Reframe Setbacks: View them as learning experiences, not as reflections of your abilities.
Stay Curious: Always be open to learning new things and improving your skills.
By embracing a Growth Mindset, you're not just improving a single aspect of your life; you're setting the foundation for continual growth and progress.
It's about enjoying the journey as much as the destination, and knowing that every effort you make is building a better, more capable version of yourself.
🎥 SHORT of the Week:
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See you Friday,
- Jack Ross ✌️
Jack Ross (Data Engineer, Writer, Nomad)