Obstacles and Opportunities

Obstacles and opportunities...they face each and every one of us every day, in every area of our lives. They are the good, the bad and the beautiful. They are the risks, the rewards, the fear, the pain, the hope...I could go on and on. Obstsacles and opportunties are faced from two different perspectives. A person with a fixed mindset says, "I see an opportunity...to take a risk with the potential for great reward, to try something new, to invest in something that seems worth it, BUT....the obstacles are big...too big, too risky, too painful, and so it's not worth it. I will stay in status quo, where it is safe and sound, and predictable, and where there are no waves,and no rocking boats. Everyone is happy with me here...safe and sound, am I happy here? Maybe, maybe not, but it's not worth the risk."  A growth mindset says, "I see an opportunity...to take a risk with the potential for great reward, to try something new, to invest in something that seems worth it, AND I know there are obstacles that I will face, and will have to overcome. It may be risky, it may be painful in the process, BUT IT'S WORTH IT! If I don't try, I will never know.  I don't want to stay in the status quo.  It's safe and sound here, but is it where I will reach my greatest potential in this life? Everyone else may be happy with me here, but am I happy here? I see an opportunity, I know the risks, but the vision of the potential reward ahead is worth it...let's do it!

Obstacles and opportunities face us each and every day. They are the variables that swirl around us, that almost taunt us at times. The question becomes, "Will I fear the obstacles so much that I miss the opportunity, or will I see the obstacles as a way to grow, to become stronger, to try and fail knowing that the opportunity may propel my life in such a way that ultimately will lead me to be at my best in this life."

So when facing obstacles and opportunties in life, in the work place, in the situation that we are in outside of work,  we have to take a moment to reflect, "What is my mindset around this decision...am I approaching it with a growth minset, or a fixed? What impact will this mindset have on my life, and is my current mindset around this going to lead me to my best, and happiest, and most fulfilled place in my life?"

Now at this point you are saying, "Kristin, what in the world does this have to do with awakening impact in students?" That my friend is what I leave you to think about...;)

I will say however, that our mindset doesn't change from work to outside of work. Typically we are either of a growth or fixed in both areas. When we consider the impact that mindset has on potential for innovation, for creativity, for taking risks and trying trying new things in life, then it opens up the door for couragious conversations to be had, for seed ideas to be planted, and for change to take root...