Rant: Chasing the 'growth mindset' ideal left me more defeated than ever

There's this pervasive belief in psychology circles that adopting a growth mindset can overcome any setback, but I've found it to be overly simplistic! Last year, I was struggling with learning a new language for a job opportunity, and I kept telling myself I just needed to try harder. Instead of acknowledging my natural limitations and the time constraints, I doubled down on study hours, ignoring signs of mental fatigue. This led to a complete breakdown during the key presentation, where I froze up and couldn't recall basic vocabulary. The fallout wasn't just professional embarrassment, it shook my confidence in my ability to learn anything new. Reflecting on it, I think the pressure to always see failure as a stepping stone made me dismiss valid emotional responses like frustration and fear. Now, I believe that sometimes, recognizing when to step back is more psychologically healthy than relentless pursuit. It's a nuanced take that doesn't get enough airtime in positive psychology discussions!

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_white3h ago

Seriously, why do we buy into that hustle culture so hard? I once tried to master guitar in a month for a gig and ended up with such bad tendonitis I couldn't play for weeks. Sometimes quitting is just strategic, you know?

nora_mason2h ago

Hey, did you hear that psychologist on NPR saying growth mindset can become punitive? Like when people blame themselves for not trying enough instead of acknowledging real limits. Totally reframed it for me.