Reading Reflection No. 2

1)    What was the general theme or argument of the book?

I chose to read “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” because I’m personally very interested in psychology and how our brains work and function, and also help us achieve our biggest potential. The general theme focused around how a mindset is not “fixed,” it’s fluid and can change over time. People think their qualities and talents are all they have, when in reality, every person can grow their mindset to accomplish tasks we once thought impossible.

2)    How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

It’s easy to get discouraged in the class and want to give up, especially when the pieces and details of your business idea don’t fit together perfectly. It’s easy to get in your head and say this is too hard and not for me. But this book really emphasizes the idea of a “growth mindset,” where you can acquire new skills and expertise as long as you think you can! This has really enhanced some of the discussion we’ve had in the class regarding giving up because it serves as a reminder to strive for something you’re passionate about. Dweck said it best in the book: “Becoming is better than being.”

3)    If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

My exercise would include students writing down three mindsets they believe they exhibit, and three they wish they exhibited. Next, ask some students to volunteer and say one of their wished-for mindsets. Follow up with asking, “Why do you believe you can’t have this mindset?” It is likely students will say they don’t know, then the instructor capitalizes on Dweck’s idea of a “growth mindset,” and how having one can help you embrace hardships, struggles, challenges and fear. Explain that mindsets are formed ideas in our heads, and we have the power to change them whenever we want.

4)    What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

I expected to be familiar with a lot of the psych terminology because I’ve studied many of the subfields, but what I found instead that the book was written in a way to encourage the audience to get involved and make differences in the mindsets we give ourselves. The biggest surprise in the book was when Dweck told Olympian Wilma Rudolph’s story, and how her left leg was paralyzed after fighting pneumonia at age 4, and she trained and mentally believed she could run again. With this anecdote, Dweck tells us we can achieve physical skills much greater than expected just by thinking and telling ourselves we can.