The terms fixed mindset and growth mindset come from the work of psychologist Carol Dweck. They describe two different beliefs about where our abilities come from — and that belief turns out to have a real effect on how we learn, cope with setbacks and ultimately progress.
Someone with a growth mindset is more likely to persevere through difficulty, embrace challenges, learn from criticism and keep improving — because they see ability as something that grows. Someone with a fixed mindset may avoid challenges (to protect their self-image) and give up more easily. It's especially influential in education, which is why so many schools teach it, but it applies to adults learning anything new too.
Mindset isn't itself fixed — you can cultivate a more growth-oriented outlook, often starting with how you talk to yourself ('I can't do this' becomes 'I can't do this yet'). It's not about pretending everything is easy or that effort guarantees success; it's about recognising that struggle and practice are how we genuinely improve. Our free growth mindset poster offers handy reframes, and our affirmations and goal-setting guide build on the idea.