Escaping 17 Fixed Mindset Examples for Personal Growth
Are you aware of the power your mindset holds over your success and personal growth? Unfortunately, in a world full of constant change, having a fixed mindset can keep you from unlocking your true potential.
Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking research has revealed that there are two types of mindsets: fixed and growth. While a growth mindset embraces challenges, learns from mistakes, and believes in constant self-improvement, its counterpart – the fixed mindset – tends to limit opportunities and hinder progress.
In this blog post, we will uncover 17 common examples of fixed mindsets that might be holding you back from achieving greatness.
Understanding Fixed Mindset
A fixed mindset is characterized by the belief that talents and abilities are innate and cannot be developed, leading to limited growth, missed opportunities, negative self-talk, and reduced resilience.
Definition And Characteristics
Having a fixed mindset means that you believe your skills, intelligence, and abilities are set in stone and cannot be enhanced or developed further. This belief stems from the notion that these traits are innate gifts given at birth, limiting our potential for growth and improvement.
For example, imagine someone who was always praised as a ‘natural artist’ during their childhood. As an adult, this person might shy away from exploring new artistic techniques or mediums for fear of not being able to create something perfect on the first try – thus confirming their suspicion that their talent is limited.
In contrast, individuals who embrace a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to learn and develop new skills through constant practice and persistence. They understand that setbacks are part of the journey toward self-improvement rather than definitive proof of incompetence.
The Negative Impact Of Fixed Mindset
A fixed mindset can have a detrimental impact on personal growth and development, limit opportunities for learning, reduce resilience, and lead to negative self-talk and lack of motivation.
Limited Growth And Development
One of the most significant disadvantages of having a fixed mindset is limited growth and development. When you believe that your talents and abilities are set in stone, it becomes difficult to push yourself to learn new skills or overcome challenges.
For instance, Carol Dweck’s research on mindsets found that those with a fixed mindset had lower levels of motivation when faced with certain tasks because they didn’t see them as an opportunity for improvement.
Imagine if legendary figures like Oprah Winfrey or Michael Jordan had allowed their fears and self-doubt to limit their potential – they would have never achieved the incredible success that they did! Recognizing your capacity for growth and embracing lifelong learning can help counteract this negative thinking pattern, whether it’s mastering public speaking or honing athletic skills.
Missed Opportunities
One of the most significant consequences of having a fixed mindset is missing out on numerous opportunities for growth and self-improvement. When you firmly believe that your talents and abilities are innate and unchangeable, you tend to shy away from challenges, thinking that they’re beyond your capabilities.
For instance, imagine passing up an opportunity to attend a public speaking workshop because you have always thought of yourself as a “terrible speaker.” By clinging to this belief instead of embracing the learning opportunity in front of you, you might miss out on developing a valuable skill.
Successful people like Oprah Winfrey and Benjamin Franklin were once afraid of public speaking too; however, they recognized their shortcomings as obstacles to overcome rather than immutable facts about themselves.
Reduced Resilience
Having a fixed mindset can greatly reduce your resilience. If you believe that your abilities and talents are innate and cannot be developed through practice and effort, you may feel discouraged when faced with challenges or setbacks.
For example, if you struggle with public speaking but have a fixed mindset that you’re just not good at it, you may avoid opportunities to speak in front of others. This avoidance behavior reinforces the belief that you’re not good at public speaking because there is no opportunity for improvement when avoiding the situation altogether.
Negative Self-talk
It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative self-talk when we have a fixed mindset. When we believe that our abilities and talents are innate and cannot be improved, we tend to focus on our limitations rather than our potential.
For example, if you’re trying to develop your public speaking skills but have a fixed mindset, you may tell yourself things like, “I’m just not good at this,” or “I’ll never be as good as other speakers.” These negative thoughts hold you back from taking action and practicing your skills, leading to missed opportunities for growth.
Lack Of Motivation
One of the most significant negative consequences of having a fixed mindset is experiencing a lack of motivation. When we believe that our abilities are innate and unchangeable, we may feel like there’s no point in trying to improve or learn new things.
This can lead to a lack of effort and energy toward setting goals and taking action toward personal growth.
For example, if you have always struggled with public speaking, believing that it’s just something you’re not good at may prevent you from seeking out opportunities to practice and improve your skills.
However, adopting a growth mindset and understanding that skills can be developed with hard work and dedication can motivate you to take action toward improving your public speaking ability.
17 Fixed Mindset Examples
In this section, we will provide a list of 17 common fixed mindset examples that can hinder personal growth and development.
As someone looking to improve myself, I understand how important it is to recognize the fixed mindset patterns that may be holding me back. Here are 17 examples of fixed mindsets to be aware of:
- Belief in innate talents and abilities
- Avoidance of challenges
- Fear of failure
- Giving up easily
- Feeling threatened by the success of others
- Resisting changes
- Not open to new ideas
- Blaming others for failures
- Refusing to collaborate with others
- Refusing to learn from mistakes
- Being defensive with feedback
- Limiting yourself to your comfort zone
- Fearing criticism
- Comparing yourself to others
- Giving up easily instead of persisting
- Overly focusing on outcomes instead of the learning process
- Avoiding taking risks
By becoming aware of these fixed mindset tendencies within ourselves and actively working towards developing a growth mindset, we can unlock our full potential for personal growth and development in all aspects of our lives, whether it’s in our careers, relationships, or personal hobbies and interests.
Let’s dive deeper into these 17 fixed mindset examples:
1. Belief In Innate Talents And Abilities
When it comes to fixed mindset examples, one of the biggest indicators is a belief in innate talents and abilities. This type of person believes that they were born with certain skills or lack thereof, and there’s nothing they can do to change that.
For example, if you struggle with public speaking, you might convince yourself that you’re simply not a “natural” speaker and could never improve.
This kind of thinking can be incredibly limiting and self-defeating. It prevents you from seeking out learning opportunities, practicing your skills, or taking risks in order to grow as a person.
In contrast, someone with a growth mindset recognizes that all skills are learnable through effort and practice.
2. Avoidance Of Challenges
One common example of a fixed mindset is the avoidance of challenges. People with this type of mindset view challenges as threats to their abilities rather than opportunities for growth and learning.

They may avoid trying new things or taking on difficult tasks because they fear failure, which they perceive as a reflection of their inherent deficiencies.
This kind of thinking can limit personal growth and achievement since it prevents you from acquiring new skills and knowledge through practice and effort. Adopting a growth mindset approach means embracing challenges rather than shying away from them, understanding that struggles are an essential part of the learning process, and accepting constructive feedback for improvement.
3. Fear Of Failure
I used to fear failure a lot, and it held me back for years. But then I learned that having a fixed mindset about my abilities was limiting my growth and development. When you have a fixed mindset, you believe that your innate talents and abilities are the most important things when it comes to success.
The problem with this type of thinking is that it can prevent you from achieving your goals and reaching your full potential. Failure is not something to be feared but rather an opportunity for growth and learning.
When we fail, we have the chance to learn from our mistakes, improve our skills, and try again with more knowledge than before.
Failure is not something to be feared but rather an opportunity for growth and learning.
4. Giving Up Easily
As someone who wants to improve themselves, giving up easily can be a major roadblock. Having a fixed mindset means that you may believe your abilities are limited, and this can lead to negative self-talk that convinces you it’s not worth trying at all.
To overcome this obstacle, it’s essential to shift towards a growth mindset where failures are seen as an opportunity for learning and improvement to occur through consistent practice and resilience.
For example, Michael Jordan didn’t become one of the greatest basketball players in history overnight; he worked hard every day on his athletic skills, failing many times before achieving success.
Similarly, Oprah Winfrey faced numerous obstacles throughout her career but persevered despite setbacks by viewing them as opportunities for growth rather than failure.
5. Feeling Threatened By The Success Of Others
Comparing ourselves to others is a natural tendency and can be motivating if we use it in the right way. However, feeling threatened by someone else’s success is a clear indication of a fixed mindset.

On the other hand, those with fixed mindsets may feel inferior or envious when they see others succeed. This negative self-talk can limit our potential for personal growth and achievement since we focus on what we lack instead of how we can improve.
6. Resisting Changes
I used to be someone who was afraid of change. Whenever I encountered something new or different, my initial reaction would be to resist it.
When we refuse to embrace change, we miss out on opportunities for growth and improvement. We become stuck in our ways and fail to adapt to the ever-changing world around us.
Changing this fixed mindset example requires a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones and try new things. By doing so, we open ourselves up to new experiences and fresh perspectives that can lead us toward personal growth and success.
When we refuse to embrace change, we miss out on opportunities for growth and improvement.
7. Not Open To New Ideas
One of the biggest hindrances to personal growth and development is being closed off to new ideas. When we have a fixed mindset, we tend to believe that our way of thinking is the only way and may resist considering alternative perspectives.
For example, if you’re someone who has always struggled with public speaking, you may avoid attending training sessions or seeking feedback from others because you think it’s pointless.
By doing so, however, you’re denying yourself an opportunity for growth and improvement. Instead, try adopting a growth mindset by being open to new ideas and approaches.
8. Blaming Others For Failures
One of the fixed mindset examples that could be holding you back is blaming others for failures. It’s easy to shift responsibility onto someone else when things go wrong, but it can also prevent growth and improvement.
Instead, try taking ownership of your mistakes and shortcomings.
9. Refusing To Collaborate
One of the 17 fixed mindset examples is refusing to collaborate. This is when someone believes that they are better off working alone rather than with others, and they don’t see the value in sharing knowledge, ideas, and resources.
As a result, people with this mindset miss out on opportunities for growth and personal development. Collaboration allows you to learn from others’ experiences, skills, and knowledge.
Refusing to collaborate can also lead to negative self-talk, which may affect your motivation as well. When we work alone all the time, our brain activity gets limited, which does not help us in expanding our knowledge base or improvising our existing skill set, or coming up with innovative solutions.
10. Refusing To Learn From Mistakes
I used to be guilty of this fixed mindset example, and it’s important to recognize it so you can make changes for personal growth. Refusing to learn from mistakes often stems from a fear of failure or humiliation, which is common in those with fixed mindsets.
For instance, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team but went on to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. He didn’t let that failure define him; instead, he used it as motivation to work harder and improve his skills.
To adopt a growth mindset, start viewing your mistakes as learning opportunities rather than setbacks.
11. Being Defensive With Feedback
When I receive feedback, it can be difficult to accept criticism without becoming defensive. However, being defensive with feedback is a perfect example of having a fixed mindset.
A person with a fixed mindset tends to take negative feedback personally and may become defensive or angry in response. They believe that their abilities are innate and cannot be improved upon, so any critique threatens their sense of self-worth.

Conversely, someone with a growth mindset sees negative feedback as an opportunity for growth and improvement. They embrace constructive criticism as part of the learning process, understanding that it helps them recognize areas where they need to improve and encourages personal development.
12. Limiting Yourself To Your Comfort Zone
Have you noticed that you only ever stick to what’s familiar and never venture beyond your comfort zone? This is one of the classic fixed mindset examples. Whether it’s public speaking, trying new foods, or learning a new skill, staying within our comfort zone limits our personal growth and success.
To break out of your comfort zone and develop a growth mindset, start by identifying the reasons why you shy away from challenges. Is it fear of failure? Lack of confidence in yourself? Once identified, begin taking small steps outside of your comfort zone with SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely).
For example, if public speaking makes you anxious, find opportunities to share ideas with just one person at first before moving on to larger groups. Remember that mistakes are necessary for learning and development, so don’t be too hard on yourself when they happen.
Mistakes are necessary for learning and development, so don’t be too hard on yourself when they happen.
13. Fearing Criticism
One of the common traits among those with a fixed mindset is fearing criticism. When we are afraid of being judged or criticized, we tend to avoid challenges and stay in our comfort zones.
This can limit our growth and prevent us from reaching our full potential.
For example, let’s say you want to improve your public speaking skills. If you have a fixed mindset and fear criticism, you may be hesitant to speak up in front of others or avoid opportunities to give presentations altogether.
However, if you adopt a growth mindset and embrace constructive feedback as a learning opportunity, you may start seeking out more chances to practice public speaking and actively work on improving your skills.
14. Comparing Yourself To Others
One of the most common examples of a fixed mindset is comparing yourself to others. This habit can limit our growth and development, as we begin to focus on our perceived shortcomings instead of our strengths and potential for improvement.
For instance, I used to struggle with public speaking because I would compare myself to other speakers who seemed more confident and polished. However, once I realized that this was a fixed mindset thought pattern holding me back, I began focusing on my own progress and seeking out opportunities to practice and learn from feedback.
15. Giving Up Easily Instead Of Persisting
One of the key traits of a fixed mindset is the tendency to give up easily. When faced with challenges, individuals with a fixed mindset are more likely to throw in the towel quickly rather than persist and push through difficult situations.
To avoid falling into this trap, it’s important to approach challenges with a growth mindset. Instead of seeing setbacks as evidence of limitations or lack of ability, view them as opportunities for growth and self-improvement.
For example, if you struggle with public speaking skills, instead of avoiding presentations altogether or giving up after one unsuccessful attempt, take actionable steps towards improving your abilities, such as joining a public speaking group or practicing in front of friends and family.
16. Overly Focusing On Outcomes
I used to be someone who would always focus on the end result rather than enjoying the process of learning and growth. I believed that success was all about getting immediate results and outcomes, which meant that I tended to overlook important details along the way.
The danger in overly focusing on outcomes is that it limits our ability to learn from mistakes and setbacks. We become so focused on achieving a certain outcome that we forget about the importance of taking small steps toward progress.
In order to develop a growth mindset, it’s crucial to shift our perspective from instant gratification to appreciating every milestone in our personal journey.
17. Avoiding Taking Risks
One of the most common traits of a fixed mindset is the avoidance of taking risks. People with a fixed mindset tend to stick to what they know and avoid situations where they might fail or make mistakes.
For example, if you want to improve your public speaking skills, you might need to take on new challenges, such as speaking in front of larger audiences or tackling more complex topics.
If you have a fixed mindset and are afraid of failure, you may avoid these opportunities altogether, missing out on valuable chances for growth. Cultivating a growth mindset means embracing new experiences and being willing to take risks even if there’s a chance that things won’t go exactly as planned.
Now that you’re aware of these fixed mindset examples, you can begin to identify them in your own life and work on shifting your mindset toward growth and personal development. Remember, it’s never too late to change your perspective and unlock your full potential.
FAQs:
1. What is a fixed mindset?
A fixed mindset refers to an individual’s belief that their abilities and intelligence are predetermined, unchangeable traits. This type of thinking can limit personal growth and hinder success.
2. What are some examples of a fixed mindset?
Examples of a fixed mindset include avoiding challenges, giving up easily, ignoring feedback or criticism, being threatened by the success of others, and believing that talent alone is enough for success.
3. How can someone overcome a fixed mindset?
To overcome a fixed mindset, one must first recognize its existence and then actively work towards developing a growth mindset. Some techniques include embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, seeking out feedback and constructive criticism, learning from failures rather than being discouraged by them, and applying effort consistently over time.
4. Why is having a growth mindset important in today’s world?
In today’s fast-paced world, where change is constant and new skills must constantly be learned to remain relevant in the workforce or personal lives, having a growth mindset allows individuals to adapt more easily to changing circumstances while continuing to develop their abilities and achieve greater levels of success.
Key Takeaways And Summary
Understanding the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset is crucial to personal growth and development. By adopting a growth mindset, you can improve your skills, overcome challenges, and achieve your goals.
No. | Fixed Mindset Example |
---|---|
1 | Believing that your talents and abilities are innate and unchangeable |
2 | Avoiding challenges for fear of failure |
3 | Being paralyzed by the fear of failure |
4 | Giving up easily when faced with obstacles |
5 | Feeling threatened by the success of others |
6 | Resisting changes and new experiences |
7 | Not being open to new ideas and perspectives |
8 | Blaming others for your failures instead of taking responsibility |
9 | Refusing to collaborate and work with others |
10 | Not learning from mistakes and considering them as dead ends |
11 | Being defensive when receiving feedback or criticism |
12 | Limiting yourself to your comfort zone and avoiding personal growth |
13 | Fearing criticism from others and avoiding situations where it might arise |
14 | Constantly comparing yourself to others and feeling inferior |
15 | Giving up easily instead of persisting and tackling challenges head-on |
16 | Overly focusing on outcomes rather than the process of learning and achievement |
17 | Avoiding taking risks for fear of failure or rejection |
The 17 fixed mindset examples presented in this article highlight some common negative beliefs that can hold you back from reaching your full potential. It’s important to recognize these limiting thoughts and replace them with positive affirmations that promote learning and self-improvement.
I wish you the best! Fabian.