A Growth Mindset

A fixed mindset makes you think small and lose coordination. That is the LAST thing you need when recovering from addiction!  However, a growth mindset helps you to see the big picture, handle adversity, be creative and change.

The concept of the growth mindset was developed by psychologist Carol Dweck, PhD. and popularized in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. A mindset, according to Dweck, is a self perception or “self-theory” that people hold about themselves. Believing that you are either “unintelligent” or “intelligent” is a simple example of mindset. People may also have a mindset related to their personal or professional lives: “I’m an addict”, “I’m a good plumber” or “I’m a bad parent,” for example. People can be aware or unaware of their mindsets, according to Dweck, but they can have profound effects on learning achievement, skill acquisition, personal relationships, professional success, and many other dimensions of life.

Here at My Addiction Physician we focus on developing a growth mindset in a number of ways, to include eliminating negative thoughts and emotions.  An addicted individual must often contend with negativity, but when equipped with a growth mindset those negative thoughts and influences can be placed within a healthy context.  Having a growth mindset can change everything for the addicted individual by helping them to control their own thoughts and emotions.  It can fundamentally change the way someone in recovery looks at their own addiction and empower them to maintain sobriety.