5 ways to develop a growth mindset

Call and talk to your parents.

The Milky Way over Chilean Andes

This image shows a number of antennas from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a state-of-the-art telescope array positioned high in the Chilean Andes. A full Moon can be seen above the red-tinted horizon, glowing brightly above the observatory.

ALMA sits on the Chajnantor Plateau, some 5000 metres above sea level. At this altitude, crystal-clear views of the cosmos can be seen on an almost nightly basis, as shown by the striking cosmic caterpillar gliding over the top of the ALMA antennas in this image. This bright streak is the Milky Way; the galaxy’s bulge of gas and intricate dust lanes is clearly illuminated against the star-studded night sky, with pink-hued patches marking areas of hot, ionised gas produced by newly formed stars. The brightest part of the Milky Way — the very heart of our galaxy — is situated approximately 25 000 light-years away from Earth.

Credit:

Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO

Give yourself permission to be a beginner.

Everyone starts somewhere, and every person who is really great at what they do was once someone who didn't know much and struggled. And you're allowed that. You're allowed to be a person who doesn't have all the answers yet. You're allowed to be imperfect and make mistakes and not have all the tools.

It takes time to build skills. It takes time to learn how to navigate new things and develop your strengths. Struggling at something you've never done before is human and normal -- and it's okay.

You aren't a failure if it's overly difficult. You aren't pathetic or incompetent or shameful. You're a beginner. You're still learning. And there's honour in that. Honour in opening yourself up to new experiences and knowledge. Honour in putting yourself outside your comfort zone so that you can grow into a new, more full version of yourself.

So if you're feeling lost and unprepared, know that it's just a part of the process. Everyone else has been here before, and they all made it through. You'll figure everything out along the way. It takes time. And you're allowed to give yourself that time. It won't be this overwhelming and difficult forever.