You know that moment when you mess up at work and your brain immediately goes to “I’m terrible at this” instead of “I’m still learning this”? We’ve all been there. That split-second reaction reveals something important about how we view our abilities—and it has a bigger impact on our wellbeing than we might realize.

Right now, many of us are navigating constant change, whether it’s new technologies, shifting job requirements, or simply trying to maintain our mental health in uncertain times. The way we think about our capacity to grow and adapt doesn’t just affect our careers—it shapes how we handle setbacks, approach challenges, and ultimately, how we feel about ourselves each day.

The difference between a fixed mindset (“I am this way”) and a growth mindset (“I can develop this way”) isn’t just academic theory. It’s the difference between beating yourself up for struggling with something new and recognizing that struggle as part of the process.

Practical Ways to Nurture Growth Thinking

Notice Your Internal Narrator

Your brain has a running commentary about everything you do. Most of the time, you’re not even aware of it. Start paying attention to that voice, especially when you encounter challenges or make mistakes.

When Sarah, a marketing manager, started a new role requiring data analysis skills she didn’t have, her first thought was “I’m not a numbers person.” Once she began noticing this pattern, she could catch herself and reframe: “I’m not experienced with data analysis yet.” That tiny word “yet” created space for possibility.

Try replacing absolute statements with process-focused ones:

• “I’m bad at public speaking” becomes “I’m developing my presentation skills”
• “I don’t understand this” becomes “I don’t understand this yet”
• “I failed” becomes “I learned something valuable”

Embrace the Power of “Interesting”

When something doesn’t go as planned, instead of jumping to judgment, try responding with genuine curiosity. “That’s interesting” is a surprisingly powerful phrase that creates psychological distance from the situation and opens up space for learning.

James, a software developer, used to spiral when his code didn’t work. Now when he encounters a bug, he literally says out loud, “That’s interesting,” and asks himself, “What is this teaching me?” This simple shift helped him move from frustration to problem-solving mode much faster.

Focus on Process Over Outcome

Growth mindset thrives when you celebrate the effort and strategy you put in, not just the results. This doesn’t mean lowering your standards—it means recognizing that the path to mastery is rarely linear.

Instead of only acknowledging success (“I nailed that presentation”), notice the process (“I prepared thoroughly and stayed calm when that technical issue came up”). This builds confidence in your ability to handle future challenges, regardless of specific outcomes.

Seek Out Productive Discomfort

Growth lives in the space between “this is too easy” and “this is impossible.” You want to find that sweet spot where you’re stretched but not overwhelmed. This might mean volunteering for a project slightly outside your wheelhouse or having a difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Maria, an accountant, realized she’d been staying in her comfort zone for years. She started small—joining a different team’s brainstorming session, then offering to help with a client presentation. Each small step built her confidence to take on bigger challenges.

Real-World Reality Checks

Let’s be honest about what this looks like in practice. When you’re stressed about a deadline and your presentation software crashes, your first thought probably won’t be “What a wonderful learning opportunity!” And that’s completely normal.

Growth mindset isn’t about maintaining relentless optimism. It’s about what you do after the initial reaction. Maybe you allow yourself a moment of frustration, then ask, “Okay, what can I control right now?” or “How can I prevent this from happening again?”

Sometimes growth mindset means knowing when to step back. If you’re consistently struggling with something despite genuine effort, it might be time to seek support, additional training, or even reconsider if this particular path aligns with your strengths and values.

Building Your Growth Mindset Gradually

This shift doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t need to. Start small. Maybe this week you notice your self-talk when you make a mistake. Next week, you practice asking one curious question instead of making a judgment. The following week, you try celebrating effort alongside achievement.

Remember, developing a growth mindset is itself a practice in growth mindset. You’ll have days when you forget everything you’ve learned and go straight back to “I’m just not good at this.” That’s not failure—that’s data about being human.

The goal isn’t to eliminate all negative self-talk or become someone who sees every setback as a gift. It’s to gradually shift your default response from judgment to curiosity, from fixed labels to flexible possibilities.

Try This Today: The next time you catch yourself saying “I can’t” or “I’m not good at,” pause and add the word “yet” to the end of the sentence. Notice how that small addition changes how the statement feels in your body.