Fixed vs Growth: Introduction

Author and researcher Carol Dweck has studied and written about what is commonly discussed as a “fixed versus growth mentality.”  Her book, “Mindset:  The New Psychology of Success" has been read, dissected, quoted and applied throughout the realms of education, self-help, parenting, and leadership, among others.  Dweck describes a growth mindset as one most conducive to personal and professional success and fulfillment.  A growth mindset is one that embraces challenge, persists in the face of setbacks or obstacles, views effort as the path to mastery. A growth mindset is one which views mistakes as an opportunity for learning, which does not hold strongly to a goal of “finishing” or “being done” but values the process, and which looks avidly for opportunities to continue growing, learning, and improving.  This is in contrast to a fixed mindset, which views challenges as things to avoid and sees effort as fruitless; gives up in the face of obstacles, ignores even constructive negative feedback, and feels threatened by the success of others.  

This “growth mindset” has permeated secular self-help, and it is likely that you as a Christian have read or heard material influenced by Dweck’s research.  On the one hand, it is easy to feel that the growth mindset relates to such Christian concepts as “holiness”, “sanctification” and “Christian maturity.”  On the other hand, the emphasis on personal growth and personal effort leaves little room for the imputed righteousness of God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus which is central to Christianity.  

The purpose of this series of posts is to explore the growth vs fixed mindset in light of the wisdom of scripture.  In particular, to use a Christian, grace-centered worldview to establish how the growth vs fixed mindset principles might be applied to life; and to establish if there are principles to reject or modify.  This study rests upon some underlying principles:  the infallibility and inspired nature of God’s word, which therefore makes it the only true source of wisdom and the means by which God speaks to His people; the all sufficient saving work of Jesus Christ, by which He reconciled the world to God; and the total reliance of each individual upon Christ Jesus for salvation, which we receive by grace through faith in him, a free gift of God which brings forgiveness and eternal life.

 

The purpose of Christianity—the mission of Jesus—is not our self-improvement or self-actualization.  It was and is our eternal salvation.   Christ completed that work on the cross, and rose to victory on the third day.  There is nothing we can do to add to the completeness of His work of salvation.  In a world which is constantly throwing the Law at us—telling us we are not good enough, we need to become more “the adjective of the day” (more giving, more flexible, more balanced, more loving, more compassionate, more mature, more childlike, more content, more adventurous, more joyful; wiser, kinder, bolder…..)—it is easy to forget that our salvation is a done-deal:  we are children of the Gospel and we live under God’s grace.  The purpose of our existence on earth is to give God glory, to love our neighbors, to further His kingdom.  God promises us His Spirit and He has given us His Word, which are all that we need to serve Him on earth.  Let us hold on to the surety of our salvation, turn to His Word and pray for His Spirit, and tackle this idea of “growth vs fixed.”