What are the 5 characteristics of a growth mindset?

The five characteristics of a growth mindset are embracing challenges, persisting through setbacks, believing effort builds ability, seeking feedback, and learning from others’ success.
These traits are based on the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed through practice, not fixed talent. Here are the five core characteristics of a growth mindset:

1. Embraces challenges: See difficult tasks as training for growth and improvement rather than proof of limitations. Try this: when something feels too hard, add the word “yet” to your self-talk and take the next 10-minute step.
2. Persist through setbacks: View mistakes as information that help you adjust and improve. Try this: after any stumble, jot a quick “What happened → What I’ll try next” note.
3. Believe effort builds ability: Understand that focused practice, feedback, and rest develop skill. Try this: track quality reps each week instead of total hours.
4. Seek and use feedback: Invite critique and turn it into one small, concrete change. Try this: ask, “What is one tweak that would improve this by 10%?” then implement within 24 hours.
5. Learn from others’ success and failure: Feel inspired by people who are ahead and study what they do (and don’t do). Try this: pick one person you admire, list three repeatable behaviors, adopt one for the next seven days.

Mindset works like a dimmer switch, not an on-off button. Choose one habit above and run it for a week to build momentum.