In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck outlines two ways of thinking—the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.

Individuals with a fixed mindset feel that talent determines the outcome, that abilities are something you are born with and cannot change.

Those with a growth mindset feel that, with effort, they can improve in anything over time.

Those with a fixed mindset seek validation of their ability. They look for recognition, avoid failure, and seek performance goals that demonstrate that they are great—like getting A’s. They want to appear to be able to effortlessly perform at their best.

Those with a growth mindset seek challenges because they recognize that this is how they develop their skills over time. They constantly court failure and seek ways to improve. Instead of being attached to a particular outcome, they have learning goals, things that measure development, like actually learning the content of the class (regardless of the grade).

One mindset seeks immediate results, and the other seeks development over a period of time.

As in many areas of psychology, it comes down to perceived control.

Those with a fixed mindset feel that everything is predetermined and that they don’t have control over their own ability. They are either smart or not. Or strong or not. Or a good cook or not. This fixed mindset is also often attached to a fixed point in time. One defining moment that you’ve chosen to hang on to that determines the course of your life.

One example that resonates with a lot of people is the idea that they aren’t good math. When did someone tell you that? And when did you start telling yourself that? When did you start to believe it? Did you fail one test or one class and accept that as evidence that you are simply not good at math? For the wife, it started with missing the first day of multiplication tables and being embarrassed during drills the next day. Game over for years. Fixing on that point of failure ensured years of frustration and negative self-talk.

This is a common issue in our culture. For whatever reason we will accept the label of “bad at math” for the rest of our lives.

Why don’t we say that with practice and effort over time anyone can become proficient at math? (I believe this to be true—the wife taught herself as an adult and she’s really good now.)

When I’m at the crag, I hear similar things. “You climb 5.14?! Oh man [depressed Eeyore sigh] I’ll never be able to do that.”

Why not? Maybe you won’t do it today. Maybe not even next year, but that’s a lot different than never.

When I started climbing, I could only climb 5.7, and this was in a pre-gym climbing world, so I didn’t have access to fancy and safe state-of-the-art facilities. I crawled and scraped my way up every single grade. I earned it. Not because I am a natural athlete (when I started climbing, I couldn’t even do a pull up), but because I am persistent, I put in the time and effort and kept showing up. I learned that it isn’t a moment in time that defines climbing success, but it is a continuum and that development is possible over time.

But then again I have a growth mindset and believe that anyone can do what I do if they put in the same energy. That’s what it comes down to when they ask, “What do I have to do to climb hard(er)?”

Are you willing to do what it takes? And—this is just as important—what mindset do you have?