Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of growth mindset—the belief that we can develop our abilities through effort, learning, and persistence. It’s something I often explore in my work, but recently, it showed up in a very personal (and tasty!) way.

👇 Watch the video to hear my story!

For the longest time, I told myself I can’t cook. It became a story I repeated so often that others accepted it too. At family events or gatherings, I was the one asked to “bring the salad”—and I did, proudly! (I’ll have you know, my salads are top-notch and often include ingredients from my own garden.)

But still, I carried that label: Not a cook.

Rewriting the Story

Lately, something shifted. I decided to try making soup—nothing fancy, just hearty, comforting soups. And guess what? They turned out really good. I surprised myself! That small success opened the door to a powerful realization: Maybe I can do this.

That’s the beauty of a growth mindset. It challenges those long-held beliefs like “I’m just not good at this” and replaces them with “I can learn this.”

Dusting Off the Instapot

My mom gave me an Instapot a while back—it’s super cute with a tropical cover, but it’s been sitting in my garage collecting dust. Every time I saw it, I’d think, That looks too complicated. I can’t figure it out.

Yep—fixed mindset in action.

But now, I’m ready to change that. I’m bringing that Instapot into the kitchen. I might mess up, but I’m going to learn, experiment, and keep going. That’s what growth mindset is all about—trying, stretching, and growing.

What About You?

Take a moment to reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you’re telling yourself “I just can’t”? Whether it’s a skill, a hobby, or a personal goal, ask yourself: Am I looking at this through a fixed mindset—or a growth mindset?

Modeling Growth Mindset

If you’re a parent or mentor, this is a great opportunity to model growth mindset thinking for your kids. When you catch yourself slipping into fixed mindset language, name it. Make a little joke. Share your process of learning something new and show them that growth doesn’t stop at any age.

Let’s keep growing, learning, and surprising ourselves—one soup (or salad!) at a time.

✨ What’s one thing you’ve always told yourself you couldn’t do—but might be ready to try? Share it in the comments below!