The scarcity environment! Truly we have creative people in environments that doesn’t allow creativity to flourish. Interestingly, I’m in one myself at the moment, but one thing I’ve decided to do is not to be limited by the circumstance and scarcity the environment presents. It is important to know these circumstances and understand the limitation they present as it pertains to your goal, that way you can know how to circumvent them. I want you to see the world as it can be and create that world despite where you are now.
Personally, I don’t think based on location, I think based on globalization and this way of thinking influences my approach to learning and socialization. Create options and don’t wait until the opportunities present themselves, start working along that line. There’s a saying that “Success happens when opportunity meets preparation.” What’s the goal you intend to achieve? What’s the concept you wish to bring to life? The only limitation to your accomplishment is your perception. I want you to look beyond what scarcity presents. I like the part of the Bible that says “He that is above is above all.” See yourself above your environment scarcity and develop a creative growth mindset.
People who have a creative growth mindset—that is, those who think their creativity can be improved—perceive challenges as opportunities for growth rather than threats, are more motivated to take on more difficult problems, and as a result, are more creative than those who have a fixed mindset, that is, those who think their creativity is fixed and cannot be improved.
Dr. Carol S. Dweck, pioneer in the study of fixed versus growth mindsets, demonstrated that in predicting success, it doesn't matter whether someone is gifted or not. What matters is a person’s belief that they can succeed and prevail. Those with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, use feedback and learn from failures and mistakes rather than dwell on them. Someone with a growth mindset will enjoy learning new things. They will, therefore, accept challenges, persist and be driven to achieve their goals. This can help people be more creative because they are more likely to persistently pursue solutions. With a focus on bettering oneself rather than protecting oneself, someone with a growth mindset will not feel threatened by the intelligence and success of others. Instead, they will be more likely to admire others, learn from them and find inspiration in their successes.
A growth mindset offers more freedom to reach your full potential and stay in alignment with your values instead of being held back by limiting beliefs. With this freedom, everything is possible. And it brings with it the courage and motivation to strive, fail and strive again. People who experience this type of freedom believe they have the ability to change not only their own lives but also the lives of others. They don't see things as static. As Henry Ford is thought to have said, "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right." Ford recognized there's nothing that will hold you back as much as the belief that you can't do something.
Resist a fixed mindset by not allowing your environment define your capacity. Let the constraints drive your creativity!
Reference
Svetlana Whitener, Forbes coach council; The Value of a Growth Mindset and How to develop one.
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