The nature of mindsets, part 1.The deeper reason to examine our mindsets is so we can mount a self-aware response to the great challenges of our day. We simply can’t respond to our personal and global problems in a meaningful way unless we also learn how to examine our mindsets as an integral part of how we live our lives
The nature of mindsets by Ash Buchanan
A primer on how our underlying beliefs, attitudes and assumptions create our everyday lives — and our shared world
Mindsets shape the lives we lead, the actions we take and the future possibilities of the world we live in.
In this primer, we provide an overview of what mindsets are, why they matter and explore a range of practices you can use to be mindful about how and why you use them.
What is a Mindset?
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Eight principles can be used to describe the underlying nature of mindsets.
1) Mindsets are habits of mind
The word mindset was first used in the 1930’s to mean “habits of mind formed by previous experience.” In simple terms, mindsets are deeply held beliefs, attitudes and assumptions we create about who we are and how the world works.
2) Mindsets are created by experiences
Mindsets are created from the distinctions we are able to make about our experiences. We have experiences. From our experiences, we make new distinctions. From these distinctions, we create new mindsets.
3) Mindsets create blind spots
Mindsets provide us with fragmented ways of looking at the world, never with complete facts of what is. We always see the world through the filter of our mindsets and our mindsets are always incomplete.
4) Mindsets are self-deceptive
Any attempt to shift our mindsets will be met by powerful forces. An example of these forces is our tenancy for confirmation bias; the searching for, and recalling of, information that reconfirms our pre-existing beliefs.
5) Mindsets shape our everyday lives
We make our mindsets, and thereafter, our mindsets make us. Our thoughts, words and actions radiate out from our mindsets like ripples on the surface of a lake. If there is something we would like to change in our lives, such as be more creative or improve our wellbeing, we must also be open to shifting our mindsets.
6) Mindsets create our shared world
Mindsets are a powerful leverage point for cultural and systemic change. If we want to more consciously create the world we live in, such as act in a way that contributes to the
UN global goals, the first-ever global consensus on what must be done to address inequality, climate change and mental health, we must also be open to shifting our mindsets.
7) Mindsets can be developed in complexity
The more developed our mindsets become, the more we unfold towards deeper levels of wisdom and effectiveness in the world. Our mindsets evolve from simple to complex, from static to dynamic, and from ego-centric to socio-centric to world-centric. Our ability to take a perspective improves, as does our capacity to embrace ambiguity and hold paradox.
8) Mindsets can be transcended
Using the power of mindfulness, we can transcend our blind spots and self-deceptive forces, examine how our habits of mind manifest to create our lives and our world — and tap our collective capacities for profound personal and societal transformation.
In sum, it can be said that there is no way to avoid the far-reaching effects of our mindsets. Their hidden web of influence permeates everything — all the time. What’s inside us, our beliefs, attitudes and assumptions — manifests outside, shaping our future possibilities on both an individual and a collective level.
Why mindsets matter
“It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.” — Ellen Langer
On a personal level, examining mindsets can create subtle yet radical click’s in our mind, when suddenly, new ways of seeing, being — and ultimately acting become available to us. These liberating shifts can go on to meaningfully transform our lives in surprising and fulfilling ways. Cultivating this capacity is particularly important when engaging in creative activities, or when participating in innovative processes such as human centred design.
For some of you, this may be enough of a reason to inquire into the nature of your mindset. There is, however, a deeper reason to examine your habits of mind.
“It is not until we see our global problems as symptoms of one fundamental, deeper-rooted crisis — the symptoms of our individual and shared mindset — that we can begin to mount a more profound response” — Monica Sharma
We live in turbulent times. Everyone is facing increasingly urgent and deeply interrelated challenges they haven’t faced before. Collectively, we are facing an ever-growing number of social and ecological crises that continue to intensify and worsen. The ultimate source of today's great challenges — the primary root cause that creates all of our crises in the first place — is also our mindsets.
All of today's great global problems are consequences of reliving unexamined habits of mind.
Thus, the deeper reason to examine our mindsets is so we can mount a self-aware response to the great challenges of our day. We simply can’t respond to our personal and global problems in a meaningful way unless we also learn how to examine our mindsets as an integral part of how we live our lives
To Be continued, thanks for reading
For any information, email maranatha on maranathatalks@gmail.com
A primer on how our underlying beliefs, attitudes and assumptions create our everyday lives — and our shared world
Mindsets shape the lives we lead, the actions we take and the future possibilities of the world we live in.
In this primer, we provide an overview of what mindsets are, why they matter and explore a range of practices you can use to be mindful about how and why you use them.
What is a Mindset?
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Eight principles can be used to describe the underlying nature of mindsets.
1) Mindsets are habits of mind
The word mindset was first used in the 1930’s to mean “habits of mind formed by previous experience.” In simple terms, mindsets are deeply held beliefs, attitudes and assumptions we create about who we are and how the world works.
2) Mindsets are created by experiences
Mindsets are created from the distinctions we are able to make about our experiences. We have experiences. From our experiences, we make new distinctions. From these distinctions, we create new mindsets.
3) Mindsets create blind spots
Mindsets provide us with fragmented ways of looking at the world, never with complete facts of what is. We always see the world through the filter of our mindsets and our mindsets are always incomplete.
4) Mindsets are self-deceptive
Any attempt to shift our mindsets will be met by powerful forces. An example of these forces is our tenancy for confirmation bias; the searching for, and recalling of, information that reconfirms our pre-existing beliefs.
5) Mindsets shape our everyday lives
We make our mindsets, and thereafter, our mindsets make us. Our thoughts, words and actions radiate out from our mindsets like ripples on the surface of a lake. If there is something we would like to change in our lives, such as be more creative or improve our wellbeing, we must also be open to shifting our mindsets.
6) Mindsets create our shared world
Mindsets are a powerful leverage point for cultural and systemic change. If we want to more consciously create the world we live in, such as act in a way that contributes to the
UN global goals, the first-ever global consensus on what must be done to address inequality, climate change and mental health, we must also be open to shifting our mindsets.
7) Mindsets can be developed in complexity
The more developed our mindsets become, the more we unfold towards deeper levels of wisdom and effectiveness in the world. Our mindsets evolve from simple to complex, from static to dynamic, and from ego-centric to socio-centric to world-centric. Our ability to take a perspective improves, as does our capacity to embrace ambiguity and hold paradox.
8) Mindsets can be transcended
Using the power of mindfulness, we can transcend our blind spots and self-deceptive forces, examine how our habits of mind manifest to create our lives and our world — and tap our collective capacities for profound personal and societal transformation.
In sum, it can be said that there is no way to avoid the far-reaching effects of our mindsets. Their hidden web of influence permeates everything — all the time. What’s inside us, our beliefs, attitudes and assumptions — manifests outside, shaping our future possibilities on both an individual and a collective level.
Why mindsets matter
“It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.” — Ellen Langer
On a personal level, examining mindsets can create subtle yet radical click’s in our mind, when suddenly, new ways of seeing, being — and ultimately acting become available to us. These liberating shifts can go on to meaningfully transform our lives in surprising and fulfilling ways. Cultivating this capacity is particularly important when engaging in creative activities, or when participating in innovative processes such as human centred design.
For some of you, this may be enough of a reason to inquire into the nature of your mindset. There is, however, a deeper reason to examine your habits of mind.
“It is not until we see our global problems as symptoms of one fundamental, deeper-rooted crisis — the symptoms of our individual and shared mindset — that we can begin to mount a more profound response” — Monica Sharma
We live in turbulent times. Everyone is facing increasingly urgent and deeply interrelated challenges they haven’t faced before. Collectively, we are facing an ever-growing number of social and ecological crises that continue to intensify and worsen. The ultimate source of today's great challenges — the primary root cause that creates all of our crises in the first place — is also our mindsets.
All of today's great global problems are consequences of reliving unexamined habits of mind.
Thus, the deeper reason to examine our mindsets is so we can mount a self-aware response to the great challenges of our day. We simply can’t respond to our personal and global problems in a meaningful way unless we also learn how to examine our mindsets as an integral part of how we live our lives
To Be continued, thanks for reading
For any information, email maranatha on maranathatalks@gmail.com
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