A growth mindset, Uniscoops, and the benefits of looking for doubt.
😊 Welcome
This week we learn all about what it means to have a growth mindset, and how it really is critical as you learn and develop.
We hear about Uniscoops, a rather wonderful initiative from a couple of Oxford students.
And we hear some pretty challenging advice from Mark Manson, author of “The Subtle Art of not giving a F*ck”.
✍️ A growth mindset; and it’s nothing to do with just being smart
I’ve recently been reading Mindset, by Dr Carol S Dweck.
The book is a full and frank discussion of two different types of mindset: a fixed mindset, and a growth mindset, and the consequences of being stuck with the former.
A person with a fixed mindset believes they are either dumb or smart; they can’t change it.
A person with a growth mindset believes that being dumb or smart isn’t the issue. They can learn, improve, and get better, whatever their starting point is.
Early on in the book, she describes the two mindsets, in such extraordinary terms, that I’m going to repeat quite a chunk of it here.
I hope you find it as useful as I did…
💡 Did You Know?
Two students at Oxford have set up the most wonderful and simple thing…
Just like this, it’s a weekly newsletter, and each week you get three or four short, thought provoking articles.
Each article gives you an easily digestible introduction to an interesting academic conundrum (things like “Philosophy: Can Taylor Swift actually make you emotional?”). You get a brief discussion, some points to consider, and further reading to look at.
It’s the perfect way to start stretching your thinking beyond the usual school curriculum.
See: www.uniscoops.com
📢 Quote of the week
“Instead of constantly searching for certainty, it’s more effective to look for doubt. What can you potentially be wrong about? What beliefs could be improved upon? What could potentially change? Those are the more effective questions. Finding out you’re wrong, it doesn’t feel good, but it’s necessary. It’s necessary to become a better human being.”
Mark Manson
Writer and Film-maker
This is taken from the film version of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”. Despite the rather sweary title, I happily recommend the film and book for anyone who wants to be challenged about how to live a good and happy life!
Next week we’ll be celebrating Christmas, and following that will be New Year.
I’ll be taking some time off. And so should you!
See you in January. Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
