Don’t wallow
Did you know every golf course in the world is the same length? It is the distance from your right temple to your left. In other words, the game of golf is played within the 3 pound universe encased within your skull. The ten foot radius around the pin in golf is know as the “throw up zone”. The reason being, is that making the putt within that zone can have huge ramifications (sometimes worth millions of dollars in the case of the PGA). Golfers with a focused mindset, discipline to stay calm are the ones that succeed in the long run.
The same with the game of life. So much of our success or failure in life is predicated on the type of mindset we develop. According to psychologists, there are two main types of mindsets:
A Fixed Mindset. This is an attitude that is rigid and set in its ways. It is like a mind forged with concrete- Staid thoughts stuck in a rigid state. Once hardened, it is very hard to break free (break through?) beyond the usual patterns of thinking. A fixed mindset can keep us from moving forward in life. It keeps us stuck. It is wallowing.
A Growth Mindset. This is an attitude that is open and willing to move beyond the rigid. It is not set. It is like a river that works its ways around obstacles to forge a new path for itself. Once nurtured, a growth mindset can lead to success in work and life and help to move beyond ourselves. It is open to change and welcomes it as an excuse to grow. It stretches us. Once you stretch yourself, you never bounce back the same shape. So with a Growth Mindset. It is in constant flux, always open to growth and a movement toward maturity. It is wondering.
During this pandemic, we have the choice to approach it with either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Bipolar depression has conditioned me to default to a fixed mindset- the same woeful thoughts and despair toward life over and over again- wallowing.
If I intentionally switch to a growth mindset, my approach to life is more hopeful and exciting. It sees the current situation as an opportunity to learn and move forward in new and exciting ways- wondering.
The lesson in all this? Don’t wallow…wonder