Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

In her New York Times bestselling book, Grit, Angela Duckworth shares the story of Carol Dweck, a psychology major in college who wondered why some people persevere through difficulties while others give up. Dweck's interest in the topic was so intense, she went on to pursue a doctorate to help answer this question. After four decades of study and research, she put her discoveries into a book entitled Mindset.

Through her seminal work, Dweck revealed that some people get stuck in a "fixed mindset," believing their abilities, intelligence, talents, etc. are static through life and can't really be changed. Other people, on the other hand, seem to have a "growth mindset," a viewpoint that these things can continue to be developed and improved through further learning, effort, and perseverance.

But what Dweck stumbled upon through her research is something God wrote about centuries prior.

Spiritually Stuck or Spiritual Growth?

For the next five Thursdays, we are going to look at five different "mindsets" that Jesus-followers should adopt in order to grow into Christlikeness through a series entitled What's Your Mindset. And as you have probably guessed already, first on the docket is "fixed vs. growth."

A spiritually "fixed" mindset thinks that where you are spiritually right now is where you always will be. I've talked with Christians who say things like, "I just don't know much about the Bible," but as they say the words, you can tell they have no interest in changing that. They think that their lack of knowledge, or unfamiliarity with prayer, or struggle to memorize Scripture, or the fact they don't feel "anointed" with a spiritual gift means they are eternally relegated to the cheap seats of the Christian Church.

Yet, that is not the type of life God calls us to. Just as salvation is to change a person from spiritual death to spiritual life, the Christian life is to be one of sanctification, which is a continual change (growth) into Christlikeness.

The Growth Mindset of Paul

Towards the end of his life, the Apostle Paul asked his protégé, Timothy, to come visit him (during his second stint under Roman house arrest), and to "bring with you... the scrolls, especially the parchments." (2 Timothy 4:13) In other words, Paul was asking Timothy to bring him his Bible. Even as Paul was awaiting execution by the hands of the Romans, he still wanted to read and learn... because he had a "growth mindset."

Paul knew that all Jesus-followers need this approach in life. This is why he wrote in Romans 12:2 to "not be conformed to this world" (stuck in a "fixed" mindset), "but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (a "growth" mindset).

So let me ask you: How might God want to "renew your mind" so you have a hunger to grow into Christlikeness? It might be to increase (or begin) your intake of Scripture, or to memorize a Bible verse, or to spend a certain amount of time in prayer each day, or to give up an addiction, or delete an app on your phone, or even to step away from a relationship that is pulling you away from Christ. In other words, what has you stuck? And what can help you grow?

Whatever it might be, know that your current "level" isn't your forever level. The river of Jesus is beckoning you deeper. So may you adopt a growth mindset, knowing that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)