Yipeng Ma
English 101
November 1ST, 2020
Prof. Hofmann
Essay 3
The power of fixed mindsets within the realm of sports akin to certain human beliefs and personalities cannot be de-emphasized. It is in sports that the notion of natural is held intrinsically. According to Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, the idea of natural have prompted coaches and scouts to hunt for only those athletes that are physically endowed (95). She also asserts that people tend to hold onto fixed mindsets because of the need and urgency to prove one’s capability repeatedly (13). Similarly, a fixed mindset tends to obstruct people from embracing the fact that one’s abilities are not carved on stone and so can be changed. This is the notorious reason which has held back most players in the sports’ sector from embracing new heights. Adjusting a person’s dispositions can result in boundless effects. Personalities, like many other qualities, can be sharpened and improved via exertion of efforts. Dweck postulates that it is one’s belief that act as a conduit to various mindsets. Additionally, it is one’s beliefs that direct how we explicitly exploit our potentials. The physical endowment is the most basic requirement for every athlete. Dweck asserts that unlike intelligence endowment, physical prowess is visible, and it can be felt (95). Moreover, it can be derived from good practice and training. Akin to the learning process, which results in the growth of one’s intelligence, training and being assertive are the key ingredients for developing one’s physicality. The 2010 Mindset Works Article, “You Can Grow Your Intelligence” likens the adjustments in one’s brain to the growth of muscles. In both cases, it is constant engagement either through learning or practice and the right personality that leads to their developments (1).
Relevant pieces of literature and documentation have shown that quite a several sportspersons have adjusted from a fixed mindset to a more positive attitude, the growth mindset. Carol Dweck, in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, presents her audience with multiple anecdotes of athletes who shifted from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Dweck brings to the attention of her audience the disparity in physicality between the greatest boxer of his time, Ali and his opponent Sonny Liston. She paints in the minds of her readers the monstrous gap in the physical prowess of these two athletes. She narrates to her audience how Muhammed Ali managed to overcome his agile and strongly built opponent, Sonny Liston. Sonny Liston is a giant person while on the other hand, Ali is a comparably weak, small and unworthy opponent. She asserts that it is because of Ali’s resilience and mental brilliance that he eventually manages to defeat Liston (95).
Secondly, Carol Dweck demonstrates to us how one of the greatest athletes to ever grace the world’s most significant basketball courts rose to the occasion to occupy the top niche among his peers. Dweck asserts that Michael Jordan’s unwavering practise and training were the ingredients that provided the requisite stamina to reach the top (97). She describes Jordan as the most hardworking sportsman probably in the history of modern mankind sports. Despite lacking the prerequisite physique, Jordan was never a quitter. He was kicked out of his high school basketball team. Similarly, he failed to secure a place in the NBA college team he wanted to play for and also, he was never drafted by the same two teams that he could have pretty much signed for. Regardless of these setbacks, we are told that Michael Jordan never stopped training. Through consistent practising, he perfected his shooting, ball-handling and his defensive game which were his weaknesses. For Jordan, it was all about the mind and the mental toughness. He avers that it is not the physical advantages that one have that will enable them to manoeuvre through the highs and lows of sports, but the belief and one’s mental stamina (95).
Additionally, our attention is drawn to the intriguing story of Babe Ruth. Ruth is considered as one of the complete bat hitters to have ever played the modern game of cricket. His information is a true testimony of how astoundingly one can be with the right devotion and commitment (98). Through practice, Ruth would elevate his game from the bottomless pits to the breathtaking heights. Despite showing inconsistencies along with his career life, Ruth still demonstrated to the world how good one could be when he or she put dedication and the right attitude towards what they are doing.
The stories of Wilma Rudolph and Jackie Joyner-Kersee are other testimonials that cannot go unearthed as much as the issue of right attitude and personalities are under scrutiny. These two characters were no naturals. Rudolph won at least three gold medals in relays and sprints events in the 1960s. She was no physical wonder. Born prematurely and ever sickly, Rudolph was least expected to make even a single breakthrough in athletics. Nonetheless, she emerged amongst the topmost athletes, an attribution of her determination and hard work (99). Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a winner of five world records and six Olympic medals, is also a true reflection of hard work and dedication. Even though she was a real talent, much of her success is attributed to her consistent hard work and the right attitude in all her field endeavours (99).
Research has demonstrated that sportspersons with fixed mindsets show a sluggish development in their career journey. This is an attribution to their incapacities to recognize that sports, just like the other realms of life, are full of ups and downs. These categories of athletes generally tend to depict an urgent need for self-gratification. They are usually of learning, and they do not embrace their deficiencies in whatever manner. They typically believe that natural capabilities are the needed springboards to success. Most of the fixed mindset athletes are non-committal to the belief that physical prowess can be gained. Generally, they don’t buy the idea that through specific strategies, one can elevate their capabilities. On the other hand, the athletes with the growth mindsets and good mental stamina conduct their affairs in more of a learning way. They embrace and overcome the challenges that come along their career paths. Despite lacking the right physique, they improvise specific models to enable them to wade through the flying and the slow tides of the sporting activities. Again, it is also true that even those athletes who were once eclipsed in the labyrinths of fixed mindsets and finally decided to adopt a positive attitude have performed excellently after that. Shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is a no easy walk in the park. It certainly requires some efforts.
Daniel Coyle, in his book, The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How outlines certain distinctive mechanisms that he believes are the right ingredients for adjusting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. He postulates these strategies are the most critical factors that athletes could use to tap fully into their potentials. These mechanisms are generally classified as ignition, in-depth practice and master coaching skills (Coyle 2008). He asserts the combination of these critical elements revolutionizes the thinking, hence the terminology, mental revolution. The term cognitive revolution was coined by Coyle to describe the willingness of sportspersons to exploit their potential regardless of the prevailing circumstances fully. However, a concrete definition of this word was rightfully put forward by Daniel Nelson in his book, A Mental Revolution: Scientific Management since Taylor. Mental revolution refers to the dynamics associated with our thinking. These dynamics serve to expound on our productivity (Nelson 2012). The cognitive process is founded from a component known as myelin which is the holy grail for greatness. Scott Jeffrey postulates that this is the component that could have been solely responsible for the outstanding achievements seen from greats such as Michael Jordan and Michelangelo (Jeffrey 2008).
According to Coyle, deep practice bores the utmost level of hard work, dedication, commitment and responsibility. Contrary to the standard approach, deep practising elicits the desire for perseverance with ultimately leads to the culture of embracing and improvising means, ways and ends for tackling challenges. It also creates the culture of being persistent, learning from past mistakes and adjusting one’s efforts towards a particular course of action depending on the feedbacks offered (Jeffrey 2018). Pretty much, deep practice triggers a growth mindset and with it follows excellence (Ericsson 2016). Also, ignition skill elevates the highest level of commitment. Typically, commitment starts passion. With the right kind of love, we poised to develop skills that motivate talent, natural ability as well as their development (Coyle 2009).
Furthermore, master coaching skill is the hallmark in this category. It has been identified and proven as the most effective tool to manage fixed mindset among players in the sports sector. It includes developing the ability to listen and respond to the varying mindset voices in one’s head.
Change is inevitable. And just like change, adjusting from a fixed mindset to growth mindset within realms of sports is achievable. It only requires the right strategies and the right kind of mind.
Works Cited Page
Carol, Dweck. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. The Random House Publishing Groups, New York, 2008.
“You Can Grow Your Intelligence.” mindsetworks.com, Mindset Works Inc.,2002-2014.
https://www.mindsetworks.com/websitemedia/youcangrowyourintelligence.pdf. Accessed 31
Oct. 2020.
Coyle, Daniel. The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How. Bantam Publisher, New York, 2008.
Nelson, Daniel. A Mental Revolution: Scientific Management Since Taylor. Ohio State University Press, 2012.
Jeffrey, Scott. Journey to the Impossible: Designing an Extraordinary Life. Creative Crayon Publishing, 2008.
Jeffrey, Scott. The Self – Actualization Manifesto: How to Start Actualizing Your, 2018, True Potential Right Now. https://payhip.com/b/DtwH. Accessed 31 Oct. 2020.
Ericsson, Anders, and Pool Robert. Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise. Eamon Dolan Publisher, 2016.