A growth mindset is the belief that with effort, practice, and learning, you can improve your skills, intelligence, and abilities.
To develop a growth mindset, it’s important to embrace challenges, learn from failure, and focus on progress.
Therapy can help you develop a growth mindset by teaching you how to challenge negative thoughts, boost your confidence, and see setbacks as opportunities to grow.
Have you ever wondered how some people achieve so much? Is it because of luck, hard work, or both? The truth is success often comes down to how you think. If you believe you can learn, grow, and improve, you have a growth mindset. And if you’ve ever wondered how to develop a growth mindset, it starts with how you approach challenges.
The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe they can’t change or improve. They might say things like, “I’m just not good at this,” instead of, “I can get better if I practice.” This way of thinking often comes from what we were told or experienced as children.
The good news is — with practice, support, and therapy — you can train your brain to think differently and build a growth mindset.
The powerful benefits of being growth-oriented
A growth mindset means believing you can improve through effort and practice. Research shows that people with a growth mindset often do better in school and work, have better mental health, and build stronger relationships.
Some people misunderstand what a growth mindset really means. For example, they might believe it’s:
Based on trying harder: A growth mindset isn’t only about effort. It’s about working smarter, learning from mistakes, and using feedback to improve.
An automatic quality: No one is born with a growth mindset. It’s something you can develop at any age.
Aiming for perfection: A growth mindset is about progress, not perfectionism. It’s about learning and improving over time.
Viewing everything as positive: Everyone gets discouraged sometimes. The difference is that people with a growth mindset keep going. They see challenges as a part of the process.
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Benefits of a growth mindset
Developing a growth mindset can help you:
Build self-reliance and trust yourself to handle challenges
Adapt to change and see new situations as growth opportunities
Stay motivated and focus on progress
Embrace challenges and see setbacks as lessons
Become more resilient because failure feels like part of the journey, not the end
How to develop a growth mindset
If you feel stuck in a fixed mindset, you can shift your thinking. Here are some tips:
1. Replace self-criticism with self-compassion
If you grew up facing criticism or adversity, you may have a fixed mindset. When you think, “I can’t do anything right. Why even try?”, ask yourself, “Would I say this to a friend?” Instead, try to talk to yourself with kindness. This can help you change thoughts like, “I’m not good at this,” to, “I’m not good at this yet.”
2. Find a mentor
Look for someone who can share their experiences and remind you that mistakes are part of learning. An experienced mentor could be a teacher, colleague, or family friend. You can also find mentors in online groups related to your interests or career.
3. Embrace curiosity
Ask questions, try new things, and step out of your comfort zone. Curiosity encourages you to keep learning and turns challenges into opportunities.
4. Learn from mistakes
Having a growth mindset doesn’t mean you won’t make mistakes. It means you see them as chances to learn and improve, not failures.
5. Turn ability praise into process praise
This means celebrating the steps you took to overcome a challenge. For example, maybe public speaking isn’t your strength, but you practiced regularly and sought feedback from colleagues. The positive outcome at your next presentation shows how your dedication and strategies led to success.
6. Seek feedback from people you trust
Surround yourself with people who believe in learning and growth. Encouragement and support can keep you moving forward. Feedback shows you what’s working and what needs improvement. It’s a reminder that progress comes from effort and practice, not just natural talent. Think of it as a tool for growth, not criticism.
7. Write down your goals
Studies show that when you write down your goals, you’re more likely to achieve them. It keeps you focused and motivated.
8. Address any mental health concerns
No mental health condition can prevent someone from building a growth mindset, but some conditions can make it more challenging. For example, depression can involve negative thinking, and that can make it hard to believe improvement is possible. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can help challenge negative thought patterns, build resilience, and see setbacks as opportunities.
Progress might feel slow or hard, and that’s OK. You deserve kindness and patience as you work on yourself. Therapy and support can help you build confidence and find small steps to keep moving forward, even when it feels tough.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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Living with a fixed mindset can be challenging. This thinking can make you feel stuck and hold you back from reaching your goals. But support is available. A therapist can help you shift to a growth mindset by showing you how to see challenges as lessons, setting goals, and celebrating your progress.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Linda Childers
Linda is an award-winning medical writer with experience writing for major media outlets, health companies, hospitals, and both consumer and trade print and digital outlets.
Her articles have appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, WebMD, AARP, Brain+Life, HealthyWomen.org, The Rheumatologist, California Health Report, Everyday Health, HealthCentral, and many other media outlets.
While juggling the responsibilities of being part of the “sandwich generation” and caring for both her toddler son and terminally ill mother, a nurse friend encouraged her to seek therapy, which helped her to learn coping strategies and manage her depression. Linda hopes her work will help to destigmatize mental health conditions and encourage others to get the help they need.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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Rula's editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
