I came across the graphic posted below the other day and I really, really love it.  To me, a growth mindset means resiliency:  “Resiliency is a quality in objects to hold or recover their shape, or in people to stay intact. This is a kind of strength.  If you bend a fork and it bends right back ? that’s resiliency. A car that is in an accident only has a few scratches has resiliency: it holds up and keeps its shape.”

I admire resilient people, as I think most of us do.  Don’t we all love to hear stories about the runner who falls but gets back up and finishes the race?  The individual who meets their goal against all odds?  The underdog who comes from behind to win?  The tragedy that is turned into triumph because someone believed and worked hard?

I think we all know that life is a struggle.  What if instead, we chose to approach this life as a chance to learn, grow and become better?  What if mistakes were learning opportunities rather than failures?   What if we committed to the fact that change and healing take time, and accept that it will take diligence and effort, but that our best is ALWAYS good enough.

I think what is always most helpful is breaking goals down into smaller parts and taking it one day at a time.  How can I live today to get me closer to my goal?  What can I learn from today to help me get closer to my goal?  How can I show up and support myself in meeting my goals rather than tearing myself down with negative self-talk?

This might be a mindset shift for all of us!  The natural inclination will be to back away from pain and overwhelm and rejection.  To build a growth mindset and resiliency, it will take the conscious effort to avoid giving into the natural drive to retreat and give up.  Don’t feel like it needs to be big and grandiose, “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher.  THAT’S resiliency.

Adapted from a blog post written by: Emily Fonnesbeck RD, CD