Mindset

A mindset is the intertwined set of {beliefs, values, methods, stories, habits, motivations, aspirations, and so forth } that a person holds in their brain. A mindset is what makes each of us unique and it is what drives our actions.

A heathy mindset is defined as the mindset that maximizes your wellbeing.

A healthy mindset is not a fixed thing. Instead, by using reflective thinking, we can and should continually grow our mindset.

Here is the formula: (mindset one week in the future) will be better than (mindset today) is better than (mindset one week ago).

Elements of a Healthy Mindset for Learning

Here are some elements of mindset that I find super useful for learning. Other people can and should have their own elements; I put these out here for

1. Purpose. The most important purpose of learning is to improve your wellbeing along with wellbeing of others. If your wellbeing is not improving on an ongoing basis, then consider altering your methods of learning.

2. Payback. Learning should always provide a payback. Three or more units of reward for each unit of effort. When learning is not providing a payback, change your methods.

3. Enjoyment. Learning should be super fun. When it is not, change your method.

4. Potential. Anyone can learn and become extraordinary because all learning comes down to rewiring of the brain. Note: Sometimes a person has disability that makes this not true; I’m referring to average people here.

5. Mistakes. Learning involves lots of mistakes and struggle. Mistakes and struggle are so essential that we say that mistakes are our friend.

6. Performance and Knowledge Matter. Learning should lead to high levels of performance and high levels of knowledge. We cannot say we have well learned until we have both. However, if we have to choose between knowledge and performance, performance matters the most.

7. Power. Learning give one the power to reach goals, solve problems, complete projects, improve wellbeing, change habits, or change the world.

8. Research Basis. Learning should be based on the scientific research literature.

9. Hard Work. Learning anything take a lot of time and lot of hard work. There is no magic method.

10. Goals. Learning should be based on reaching measurable goals. There are only two of these: performance (do something well) and knowledge (grok the main ideas that are needed for performance.)

11. Motivation. The fire in the belly needed for learning can only come from the intrinsic rewards that drives us to learn and the rewards that arise as we figure things out.

Summary

(Mindset) causes (actions) causes (results, rewards, and such).

Thus, it follows that

(Better Mindset) causes (more effective actions) causes (better results, more rewards, and such).

Since there is not an upper limit on how good a mindset can be, grow your mindset and continually increase your {results, rewards, and such}.