Do You Have a "Set Mind" or a "Mindset"?

“When you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right.” —Henry Ford

The Set Mind

When we suggest the idea of a "set mind," what does that mean? It means someone who prefers to accept the status quo. There is complacency with one’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, and actions.

What are the potential pitfalls of a set mind? How can complacency lead to a self-limiting lifestyle?

The expression, “It is what it is” illustrates the problematic style of the set mind. This expression does not foresee an alternative to the current situation. In fact, the person exhibiting a set mind has already acquiesced to the situation they face. Over time, acquiescence leads to “Don’t rock the boat,” and worse, “Why bother?” This reinforces procrastination and settling for less than what may be possible. One’s motivation decreases due to this limited perspective of alternatives. The set mind evolves into an increasingly unadaptable and intolerant attitude, which reinforces the status quo and resists change.

The human experience comes with oodles of expectations. Expectations of people, things, and outcomes will inevitably lead to numerous frustrations. Why is this true? Perhaps because many of the expectations of life are out of our control. They are beyond any of our abilities to alter or have influence.

Even if we are extremely competent and efficient in our lifestyle, there will be things in our lives that are not within our control. Ignoring the recognition of this inability to control life circumstances makes us an accomplice to our own frustrations (Wilson, 2021). A tenacious obsession with the obstacles of life can lead one to a pattern of self-inflicted frustrations. All of these factors equate to a loss of one’s individual potential to move forward and not stagnate.

We know that frustration, by its very nature, is a change agent (Apter, 2014). When frustrated, we are motivated to transition from where we are to someplace better. Why not make that a growth experience? Through the growth experience, we may have to give up familiar limiting patterns, like becoming frustrated over and over again by the same things. Moving away from these patterns will be uncomfortable but profitable. The cost-benefit analysis of moving from seeing obstacles to seeing challenges creates salient feelings of self-control, which are usually absent in frustration. How can we create a positive growth shift from these negative perceptions?

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” —Wayne Dyer

Mindset

Similar to a set mind, a mindset is fixed but with the potential to change into a growth experience based on one’s experiences. Without the limiting factors of a set mind, a mindset can be adaptable and labile, which permits new perspectives and the ability to change. One’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, and actions are readily altered to manage situations as needed. Having this ability to shift one’s mindset as required builds confidence through embracing the unknown rather than avoiding it. The fear of change is conquered by facing one’s fear, which expands rather than limits one’s experiences.

Exploring new things and succeeding builds one’s capacity to face future problems and frustrations with more personal agency. Pursuing solutions more often than problems promotes a positive mindset. Adopting a growth mindset (Dweck, 2007) rather than a fixed mindset creates more opportunities for learning from all our experiences, whether successful or not.

“I never lose. I either win or learn.” —Nelson Mandela

Improving Your Mindset

Look to thrive and not just survive. Realize that you already possess all you need to be successful. Remember that your thinking is the main driver of your outcomes, just like Henry Ford. View all your possibilities, not just your limitations.

Strive to be a smarter and stronger worker and learner. "Just because you are struggling, that doesn’t mean you’re not learning. Every failure has something to teach you, and everything you learn helps you grow. If you are unwilling to learn, no one can help you; if you are determined to learn, no one can stop you" (Daskal, 2015).

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Cultivating a Lucky Mindset

Neuroplasticity has revealed that brain messages can be reprogrammed. Most of our old messages are brain tapes, or outdated memories, that no longer apply to the present. We are rehashing out-of-date messages that continue to contaminate our ability to be in the present. One possible solution to this is to discard the outdated set-mind messages and upgrade to our new mindset possibilities. Then, we can exponentially begin to improve our capacity to manage new and challenging experiences.