A mindset is the collection of beliefs and attitudes that shape how you see the world and approach challenges. Your mindset acts like a pair of glasses through which you interpret everything that happens to you.

Someone with a growth mindset believes abilities can improve through effort and practice. When they struggle with fractions or strike out in baseball, they might think, “I can get better at this with work.” Someone with a fixed mindset believes talents are set in stone. When they face the same struggles, they might think, “I'm just not good at math” or “I'm not athletic.”

Mindset can influence success. A student with a growth mindset who gets a C on a test might think about what to study differently next time. A student with a fixed mindset might think, “I'm bad at this subject,” and give up trying.

You can have different mindsets about different things. Maybe you have a growth mindset about sports but a fixed mindset about art. Scientists have found that mindsets can change: recognizing that your brain grows stronger when you practice difficult things can shift you toward a growth mindset. Some people find it helpful, when they catch themselves thinking, “I can't do this,” to add one word: “yet.”