Rant: Chasing the 'growth mindset' ideal left me more defeated than ever
There's this pervasive belief in psychology circles that adopting a growth mindset can overcome any setback, but I've found it to be overly simplistic! Last year, I was struggling with learning a new language for a job opportunity, and I kept telling myself I just needed to try harder. Instead of acknowledging my natural limitations and the time constraints, I doubled down on study hours, ignoring signs of mental fatigue. This led to a complete breakdown during the key presentation, where I froze up and couldn't recall basic vocabulary. The fallout wasn't just professional embarrassment, it shook my confidence in my ability to learn anything new. Reflecting on it, I think the pressure to always see failure as a stepping stone made me dismiss valid emotional responses like frustration and fear. Now, I believe that sometimes, recognizing when to step back is more psychologically healthy than relentless pursuit. It's a nuanced take that doesn't get enough airtime in positive psychology discussions!