Read a fascinating article this week about two types of mentalities, Growth and Fixed. The article indicates that it is the secret to profound performance. I wonder if this could be applied to the effects of GRACE in someone’s life. That meaning, if grace doesn’t begin the processes of eradicating the fixed nature of temperment, relational scars, patterns of success and ways of relating that brought life, then it would have little or no effect on a person. Would it even have an eternal impact?
http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2007/marapr/features/dweck.html
2 responses so far ↓
1 Eric Haynes // May 3, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Well, the obvious, “Christian” answer is to say that God’s Grace is not limited by our levels of “…temperment, relational scars, patterns of success and ways of relating….” However, I suppose that our willingness (or openness) to receiving that Grace could adversely be affected by those issues.
I’m curious how this idea is reflective of our spiritual giftedness. Is my ability as a leader fixed or growable? Seems like this is undecided in the world of discussion. Where does behavior, personality, and scars end and the work of the Holy Spirit begin? How much is a true lack of ability (fixed) versus my own “head trash negativity” (growth) getting in the way?
2 Roy // May 4, 2007 at 9:14 am
The author/researcher would say that you can move from fixed to a growth mentality. She actually travels the world consulting with all kinds of organizations trying to get their employees/athletes to move from fixed to growth.
Jamie Buckingham’s “Now Discover Your Gifts” seems to indicate a “Fixed” mentality is a predisposition that can only be altered by maybe 10%. Not sure where I would fall on the discussion or whether either of them have ever had a discussion about their perspectives.
I am looking for a paradigm that would put giftedness which lends to a fixed catagory into the growth paradigm.
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