Grow or Adapt Questionmark Questionmark
So anyway, have you read Dweck's book about mindset? Me either.
I know what it's about though. Two terms you're likely to have heard: Fixed vs Growth mindset[s]:
Fixed Mindset
The erroneous perspective that ones talent, intelligence and capabilities are static and unchangeable. Born this way ¯\(ツ)/¯ type vibe. Those of us with this mindset typically think our abilities (or lack thereof) are locked in, hence we shy away from hunting down opportunities for new experiences or personal development.
Growth Mindset
Conversely, those of us with this mindset view the same qualities as above (intelligence, talent, blah blah) as something that can be reasonably developed over time. Basically who believe they can, and make an effort to, improve in life.
No Thanks
Historically any time I've heard "growth mindset" I've thought 'Oh do fuck off.' I'm sure if I bothered to read the book I'd find all the nuance to settle me down, but there something about the term itself that has never sat right.
See, "growth" as it's commonly used feels awfully late 20th / early 21st century industrial-flywheel-minded-robber-barron. The daft concept of exponential-at-all-costs modelling that linearly minded business simpletons / economists / politicians (for example) proselytise about while failing to realise:
perpetual growth is impossible in an open system
if it looks like it's happening, a crash or reversal (that is somehow always 'out of nowhere') is inevitably on the horizon.
Yes, yes I know. JFC Zielinski it's only a word. I get it. This could be one of those times you'd call me dramatic. But I just can't get behind the TERM (not the concept). It's missing [a lot of] something[s].
The Case for an Adaptive Mindset
As we all know, the world is made up of systems, with complex interactions, relationships and interdependencies. This is true of ecosystems, social circles, first person extraction shooters, cat cafes.
Requisites and features for complex adaptive systems to self-organise are feedback (loops), inputs, diversity, iteration, chaos, connectivity (relationships) to mention but a few.
We can see here then that features of both the three C's of hardiness (commitment, control, challenge) and growth mindset are pretty much written into a complex adaptive model. We can also see other features that shouldn't really be much of a question - the need for diversity and feedback, interdependence, relationships and sitting on the boundaries of understanding or ability to adapt. This includes changing direction, absorbing setbacks and rebuilding.
Understanding and having this kind of worldview solves a few er... lingering and current issues I think. It avoids the glass cannon effect of thinking linearly in non-linear conditions.
This should be the default, but maybe due to boundaries imposed on us as we develop we might lose this understanding. I know I did. It think my mindset became fixed as life progressed. If I attempt to figure out why, I can only hang it on what I was (or wasn't) told as I grew up 🤔
Baby Mode
The easiest illustrative example I can think of that an adaptive mindset is the default is the progressive development of an able bodied newborn. You'll see a baby anything slowly attempt to piece together this walking deal. Trying to stand up, stabilising, falling over. It's all adaption at the edge of chaos. Setbacks occur, progress is made, ability is maintained then iterated upon with new inputs like more variable terrain. All of this happens automatically more or less, with degrees of external input to the system.
Born This Way
This is the ACTUAL "born this way" mindset. Interesting eh? Maybe the next time someone calls something childlike it'll cross your mind that's a much more realistic perspective than whatever bullshit they're peddling.
/EOF
Lore for Today
The 'diversity as a requisite' piece of complex adaptive systems makes me rub my hands with glee. The pushback seen against any initiatives to increase diversity (to include: dissenting voices) is beautifully illustrative of how delusional and clueless those railing against it as a concept are. A fundamental failure to understand the literal workings of the world and everything in it 🤌
I'm genuinely sorry this is long but still somehow lacking in a substantive explanation of any of the concepts I've described
I just downloaded Dweck's book from Libro.fm, so it'll be a great adventure to see if everything I've written is nonsense after I've read her work lol - I had to get this off my chest though soz again soz soz