A growth mindset means believing you can develop abilities through hard work. In contrast, a fixed mindset means believing abilities are innate—you either have them or you don’t. A growth mindset helps you embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, which improves mental health.

Our Growth Mindset: Info & Examples worksheet defines this concept and differentiates it from a fixed mindset. Information and examples guide clients in shifting their perspective to move from a fixed to a growth mindset.

This handout can be helpful for clients who feel stuck in an uncomfortable situation, are struggling with a work or relationship issue, or are dealing with depression or anxiety.

A fixed mindset is associated with cognitive distortions, such as predicting the future, catastrophizing, and all-or-nothing thinking. Exploring and challenging these faulty assumptions can be a key part of moving from a fixed to a growth mindset.

For additional guidance on embracing a growth mindset, pair this worksheet with our Developing a Growth Mindset handout.