S1:E2 Embracing Change with a Growth Mindset

Embracing Change: How a Growth Mindset Can Transform Your Life

In this episode of the Flourishing After Adversity podcast, host Laura Mangum Broome discusses the power of adopting a growth mindset in the face of life's challenges. She explains the difference between a fixed and growth mindset and shares personal stories of resilience following major life setbacks such as breast cancer, a heart transplant, and divorce. Laura outlines four key benefits of a growth mindset, including improved resilience, reduced fear of failure, enhanced relationships, and increased confidence. She also provides three practical strategies to cultivate a growth mindset: speaking kindly to oneself, trying new things, and reflecting on personal growth. Additionally, Laura introduces a free resource called 'Reframe the Spiral' to help listeners manage negative thoughts. Listen in to learn how to transform adversity into opportunities for growth and joy.

00:00 Introduction to Flourishing After Adversity
00:22 Embracing Change with a Growth Mindset
00:42 Reframe the Spiral: Coping Strategies
01:14 Laura's Personal Story of Resilience
01:54 Understanding Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
03:06 Benefits of a Growth Mindset
05:31 Practical Tips for Cultivating a Growth Mindset
07:20 Recap and Final Thoughts
07:53 Closing Remarks and Encouragement

Free Resource: Reframe the Spiral: 5 Quick Coping Strategies to Shift Negative Thoughts and Reclaim Your Day https://www.icope2hope.com/reframe

Website: iCope2Hope: From Hardship to Hope https://www.icope2hope.com

Free Paperback: Flourishing After Adversity (Pay only $4.99 shipping; U.S. Orders Only) https://www.icope2hope.com/freebook 

Transcript

Introduction to Flourishing After Adversity

Welcome to the Flourishing After Adversity podcast. I'm your host, Laura Mangum Broome. If you've been knocked down by life, grief, illness loss, or unexpected change, you're in the right place. Get ready to turn your setbacks into stepping stones because healing, growth and joy are just the beginning.

Embracing Change with a Growth Mindset

In today's episode, we're going to talk about embracing change by shifting to a growth mindset.

You'll walk away understanding what a growth mindset really is, why it matters, and how it can help you become more resilient, confident and hopeful about the future, even when life doesn't go as planned.

Reframe the Spiral: Coping Strategies

But before we dive in, are you overwhelmed with negative thoughts after a setback? If so, then I have the perfect resource for you.

It's called "Reframe the Spiral: 5 Quick Coping Strategies to Shift Negative Thoughts and Reclaim Your Day." These are the same tools I use when I feel stuck in a loop of negative thinking, and I want to pass them on to you. Just check the show notes for the link or go to https://icope2hope.com/reframe

Laura's Personal Story of Resilience

Let's start with a quick story. Years ago after back to back hardships, breast cancer loss, a heart transplant, and divorce, I had a choice to make. I could stay in survival mode or I could find a way to grow forward. At first, I didn't even realize I was making a choice. I just knew that staying stuck in the pain wasn't going to work for me long term.

I had to find a way to breathe again, to hope again. I didn't know what a growth mindset was at the time, but I was already living it and once I named it, I could build on it. That's what I want to help you do today.

Understanding Growth vs. Fixed Mindset

What is a growth mindset? Okay, first, let's talk about what a fixed mindset is. A fixed mindset believes your abilities are set in stone.

It says, "This is just how I am." It whispers lies like, "You're too old." or "You're not strong enough." or "Nothing ever works out for you." And when life hits hard, a fixed mindset convinces us that we're stuck forever. A growth mindset, however, believes you can change, you can learn and you can improve.

It says, "I can't do this...yet. But maybe tomorrow I can do a little more." A growth mindset lets us believe in possibilities. It's what helps us move forward even when the road is hard.

Psychologist Carol Dweck made popular the term "growth mindset" through her research and book titled Mindset, but you don't need to be a researcher to see the impact. You've already lived it. If you've ever learned something new. Survive something painful or found joy again, after a heartbreak, then you've tapped into a growth mindset. And the good news, you can strengthen it.

Benefits of a Growth Mindset

Starting today, let's talk about four real life benefits of having a growth mindset. The first one, you bounce back quicker. Think of resilience like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. A growth mindset doesn't mean you don't hurt. It means you believe you can heal. For example, after my heart transplant, I had to relearn how to do simple things like deep breathing and walking.

After that, I focused on what I could do each day, so I wouldn't sit in my negative thoughts. I journaled, crocheted and played the piano. A growth mindset reminded me that I was still here and there was more ahead.

Number two, you stop fearing failure. Fear of failing keeps you from even trying. But failure isn't final when you're learning. For example, starting my life over at 58 felt overwhelming at first. But instead of asking, what if I fail, I asked, what might I learn? That shift gave me the courage to write my book, start a new career, and launch this podcast.

I often remind people you don't need a perfect plan. You just need a brave next step The third benefit is that you improve your relationships. A growth mindset helps you see relationships as opportunities to grow, not battles to win. For example, when I was going through my divorce, I hit a lot of obstacles trying to move on with my life.

That's when I chose to find a win-win solution with people I was working with so that I could overcome these obstacles. That's the power of a growth mindset. You listen better, empathize more deeply, and respond without judgment. The fourth benefit is that you gain confidence to try again.

Growth builds self-trust. When you believe you can keep learning, you stop waiting for perfect conditions. For example, I didn't know if anyone would read my book Flourishing After Adversity, but I wrote it anyway. Every page was an act of hope, and that hope turned into healing, not just for me, but for others too.

So ask yourself, what would I try if I knew I didn't have to be perfect at it?

Practical Tips for Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Now I want to share with you three simple ways to start living with a growth mindset.

The first way is to speak to yourself like you would a friend. Your inner voice shapes how you see the world. Let it be kind and give yourself grace. As an example, when I found myself saying, I can't do this, I would add one tiny but powerful word, "yet." It changed everything. Instead of, "I'm terrible at this." I'd say, "I'm still learning."

So try this. Choose one phrase you often say to yourself. Rewrite it as if you were encouraging a friend. 

The second way is to try something new, even if you stumble. Discomfort is the doorway to growth. You don't have to be ready, just willing. For example, I started playing the piano again after a long break.

My first songs were played poorly, but practicing brought improvement and joy. So try this. Choose something new you've wanted to try. Take a class, pick a hobby or volunteer somewhere new. What's one small way you can start this week? 

The third way is to reflect weekly on one way you've grown. If you don't pause to reflect, you'll miss your progress. For example, I keep a notebook where I write down small wins, like I made that phone call I was scared to make. Over time, that notebook became a record of my resilience.

So try this. At the end of each week, ask, what did I do that I'm proud of? Even if it was just getting outta bed on a hard day, small steps count.

Recap and Final Thoughts

So let's take a moment to recap today's conversation. A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve with effort and time. It helps you bounce back quicker, stop fearing failure, improve relationships, and build lasting confidence.

You can begin today by speaking to yourself with kindness, trying new things, even if they're imperfect and reflecting regularly on how you're growing. You don't have to do this perfectly. Just keep showing up for yourself. That's growth.

Closing Remarks and Encouragement

As I mentioned earlier, if you want to take control of your negative thoughts during times of uncertainty, be sure to grab my free guide, "Reframe the Spiral: 5 Quick Coping Strategies to Shift Negative Thoughts and Reclaim Your Day. You'll find the link in the show notes, or you can go to https://icope2hope.com/reframe.  

All right. That's it for this episode. Please take a second to subscribe to the show so you'll be notified when future episodes come out.

And if this message helped you today, it would mean the world if you would leave a quick review or share it with a friend. 

Before I go, I want you to hear this. I believe in you. Even if today felt heavy, even if you're tired, you are still growing, you are still worthy of joy. Until next time. Remember, adversity can make you bitter or better, choose better.

You've got this!