Mindset: The Power of 'Not Yet'

Hi, everyone! Have you ever said, 'I'm just not good at maths'? Ha! I used to say that all the time. Then I read a book that changed my mind. It's called Mindset, by Carol Dweck. Dweck is a psychologist who has studied children for years. She gave them puzzles that got harder and harder. Some kids gave up and felt terrible. But one boy rubbed his hands and said, 'I love a challenge!' Dweck says there are two kinds of mindset. With a fixed mindset, you think talent is something you're born with. With a growth mindset, you believe you can improve with practice. Your brain is like a muscle. It gets stronger when you use it! In one study, she praised children in two different ways. Some heard, 'Wow, you're so smart!' Others heard, 'You worked really hard!' Surprisingly, the 'smart' kids started avoiding hard tasks! The hard workers wanted even bigger challenges. My favourite idea in the book is just two little words. 'Not yet.' One high school gives students the grade 'Not Yet' instead of 'Fail'. Isn't that brilliant? It tells you that you're still on your way. So next time you think, 'I can't do this,' just add one more word. 'I can't do this... yet.' Mistakes don't mean you're stupid. They mean you're learning! So, what's something you can't do... yet?