[Faith-talk] The Attitude Factor By Vicki Griffin

Wed Oct 12 17:16:37 UTC 2016

I agree with you Paul that this reflects the NFB philosophy. Thanks for the very practical and thoughtful article. I've Long held the ideas written here. 

Ericka Short
1750 Fordem Ave. #508
Madison. WI. 53704
608-665-3170

 from my iPhone 6s

> On Oct 12, 2016, at 12:00 PM, Paul Smith via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello and welcome to what I hope will be for you yet another timely article.  As of this writing I've not checked out the website mentioned at the end of this piece, but I intend to.
> 
> It's in the news--whether you're battling a cold, bouncing back after a big blunder, beating the blues, or braving a new and challenging task--mindset matters more than you may think.  God has created these marvelous brains of ours with a capacity to improve in function, ability and attitude with proper treatment, use, and exercise.  The brain constantly re-shapes itself according to what it learns, thinks, feels, and what it expects.  Neuroscientist John Ratey explains:  "Experiences, thoughts, actions and emotions actually change the structure of our brains" (Ratey J. "User's Guide to the Brain," Vintage Books, New York, 2001, p17).  "But," he cautions, "one necessary precursor to change, though, is often a change of attitude" (Ibid, p356).
> 
> Attitude can be more important than facts when it comes to conquering life's mountains.  When we pack a bad attitude, we may expend a lot of energy mountain-climbing over molehills but find ourselves unprepared when we need the mental mettle to scale a genuine peak of difficulty.
> 
> Social psychologist Carol Dweck has studied what she terms the "fixed" versus the "growth" mindset in children and adults (Dweck C. "Mindset." Random House, New York 2006).  People with a fixed mindset believe believe that traits such as intelligence, ability, personality, and competence are inborn and basically unchangeable.  They believe that the need to "work" at improving means there is a basic lack of intelligence or ability.  They tend to view themselves as smart or dumb; strong or weak; winners or losers.
> 
> Children with this mindset will choose easy puzzles instead of hard ones in order to reassure themselves that they are competent.  Because of the strong need to "be smart" instead of "get smart," individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges; give up easily when confronted with an obstacle; view "effort" as fruitless; ignore criticism; and find other people's success threatening.  Students with a fixed mindset who get a poor grade on a test see themselves as "dumb" instead of needing to study harder or plan better.  This attitude makes them more likely to give up on their goals.
> 
> In marriage, spouses with a fixed mindset believe that "love conquers all"; a good marriage should not require work; it should be smooth sailing and self-adjusting over time; spouses should be able to read each others' minds; and flaws indicate deep problems.  Individuals with a fixed mindset tend to be negative; they suffer from more anxiety and depression; they find it difficult to forgive others because they are so tough on themselves.
> 
> Sociologist Benjamin Barber concluded:  "I don't divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and failures, those who make or those who don't.  I divide the world into learners or non-learners." It is possible to have a fixed mindset in certain areas but not others. The good news is that the fixed mindset is "fixable!"
> 
> People with a growth mindset believe that although people may differ in basic aptitudes, interests and temperament, everyone can change, grow and improve.  They have a passion for stretching and growing, even when they are making mistakes and facing challenges.  Children with a growth mindset will choose hard puzzles over easy ones because they enjoy the challenge.
> 
> Individuals with a growth mindset may not "feel" smart but they are interested in "getting smart." They tend to embrace challenges; they persist in the face of obstacles; they see effort as the path to mastery; they learn from criticism, and find others' success inspiring. Individuals with a growth mindset tend to be positive; they are able to trust others; they can "bounce back" when difficulties get them down; and they tend to be more forgiving of others.  Students with a growth mindset who get a poor grade on a test will reassess their study habits, join a study group, or re-take the class if necessary.  They are determined to "learn" and therefore are less likely to give up their goals.
> 
> In marriage, spouses with a growth mindset believe that love needs a lot of practical help; problems are a part of life, and good relationships require effort and maintenance.  Couples rarely agree on everything and certainly cannot read each other's minds! They believe the relationship will deepen and grow and challenges are met and conquered--and they are right!
> 
> Viktor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who was imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II.  He lost his family, career, freedom, and health.  When he was finally released, he wrote, "Everything can be taken from man but one thing:  the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances"
> (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/v/viktor_e_frankl.html).
> 
> Choosing a new way of thinking is like changing any other habit--it takes practice, perseverance, and patience.  "What we learn to do, we learn by doing.  Excellence, then, is not an act--but a habit"
> (http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2192.artistotle).
> 
> Do you come from a long line of naysayers? No worries.  Neuroscientist John Ratey encourages:  "We are not prisoners of our genes or our environment.  Poverty, alienation, drugs or hormonal imbalances, and depression don't dictate failure.  Wealth, acceptance, vegetables and exercise don't guarantee success.  Genes set boundaries for human behavior, but within these boundaries there is much room for variation determined by experience, personal choice, and even chance.  We always have the ability to remodel our brains."
> 
> _First, learn to spot fixed thinking.  _Second, determine to replace faulty internal monologues.  _Third, read the Bible for direction and power.  Jesus said, "Learn of Me." (Matthew 11:29).  Learning new and better ways of living and thinking is possible.  New beliefs take their place alongside old ones and gain strength with practice over time.  So practice a new _attitude--it will help you achieve greater _altitude when meeting life's challenges!
> 
> Visit
> http://www.lifestylematters.com
> for more resources for building a better brain, body, and lifestyle--for good!
> 
> And there you have Ms. Griffin's article which I hope was a blessing for you, as well as the website mentioned at the end.
> 
> You know, this growth mindset philosophy reminds me a lot of NFB's philosophy.  Do you agree?
> 
> And that will do for now.  You can better believe that this article will be read over the facilities of the Radio Reading Network of Maryland this Friday morning.
> 
> Until tomorrow when, Lord willing another timely article will be posted, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Faith-Talk mailing list
> Faith-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/faith-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Faith-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/faith-talk_nfbnet.org/dotwriter1%40gmail.com