Okay, mindset shift is the thing that’s kept me from staying stuck in my own head, sprawled out on my couch in this cramped Chicago apartment, munching on stale Doritos and doom-scrolling X. I’m sitting here, coffee gone cold in my chipped thrift-store mug, thinking about how I used to believe I was just “bad” at stuff. Like, forever bad. That’s fixed mindset nonsense, and I was swimming in it. Let me spill my guts about how I stumbled into a mindset shift, with all the cringey, real-deal moments included.
Why My Fixed Mindset Blocked My Mindset Shift
Picture me last winter, buried under three hoodies because my radiator was straight-up sketchy, convinced I’d never climb out of my dead-end retail job. I thought, “I’m not smart enough, not built for success, you feel me?” That’s fixed mindset—thinking your skills are carved in stone. I’d scroll X, see folks flexing their wins, and just… shut down. Like, “That’s them, not me.”
There was this one time I tried picking up graphic design for kicks. Watched a couple YouTube vids, whipped up a logo that looked like a kindergartner’s art project, and bailed. Told myself, “I’m not creative.” Yikes, major cringe. That was me slamming the door on any chance of a mindset shift before I even knew what it meant.
The Brain Stuff Behind Mindset Shifts
Carol Dweck, this total rockstar psychologist, came up with the whole growth vs. fixed mindset thing. Her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (check it here), flipped my brain upside down. Fixed mindset says your abilities are locked; a mindset shift toward growth says you can level up with effort. Sounds basic, but it hits hard when you’re living it. Research backs it—people who embrace a mindset shift are more likely to tackle challenges and recover from flops. Me? I was the opposite, moping in my apartment, thinking I was screwed.
My Messy Mindset Shift Moment
Fast forward to spring, I’m at this grungy Wicker Park bar, sipping a cheap IPA, when my buddy Jake starts rambling about how he taught himself to code in six months. Six freaking months! I’m sitting there like, “Dude, I can’t even keep a cactus alive.” But something sparked. Maybe I wasn’t bad at stuff—maybe I just hadn’t pushed for a mindset shift. That night, I tripped over a pile of laundry, went home, and signed up for an online public speaking course. Why? Because I was petrified of it, and I wanted to prove I could change.
Real talk: It was a trainwreck at first. My first Zoom speech? I froze, stuttered, and knocked over my water glass mid-call. Water everywhere, my cat giving me the ultimate side-eye.
But here’s the kicker—I didn’t bail. I kept practicing, talking to my mirror like I was dropping a TED Talk. Slowly, I got better. Not perfect, but better. That’s a mindset shift, y’all—leaning into the chaos and keepin’ it moving.
How I’m Still Messing Up My Mindset Shift
I’m no guru, trust me. I still slip into fixed mindset mode. Like, last week, I tried baking sourdough because X won’t shut up about it. Burned it to a sad, smoky crisp. My apartment smelled like a bad BBQ. I almost gave up, but then I cracked up and tried again. Second loaf was… okay-ish. Progress, not perfection, right?
Here’s what I’ve figured out, all jumbled:
- Screw-ups are teachers. Every flop teaches me something. That burned bread? Reminded me to actually use a timer.
- Tiny wins stack up. I started tracking small goals, like “speak for 30 seconds without ‘uh’.” Sounds lame, but it’s huge.
- Comparison kills vibes. X is a minefield—everyone’s wins make you feel like trash. Unfollow if you gotta.
- Get help. I swallowed my ego and asked a coworker to roast my speeches. Total game-changer.
Tips for Your Own Mindset Shift Journey
If you’re stuck like I was, here’s my two cents, straight from my chaotic Chicago life:
- Start crazy small. Wanna try something new? Do five minutes a day. I did this with public speaking, and it snowballed.
- Own your flops. That Zoom water spill? I laugh about it now. Makes a solid story.
- Find your hype person. Jake’s bar rant lit a fire under me. Get someone who’s got your back.
- Write it down. I jot my wins and L’s in a dollar-store notebook. Helps me see the mindset shift happening.
Wrapping This Up (Like a Half-Eaten Taco)
I’m still a hot mess, sitting here with my cat throwing shade and my radiator clanking like it’s haunted. A mindset shift isn’t a quick fix—it’s a grind, but it’s worth it. I’m not where I wanna be, but I’m not where I was, and that’s cool for now. If I can bumble into personal growth, you can too. What’s one small thing you’re scared to try? Go for it. Screw it up. Laugh. Keep going. Slide into my X DMs (@RandomChicagoMess) and tell me how it went.
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