In this episode of the Confident Storytelling Podcast, we dive into the transformative power of the "growth mindset" and how it shapes both our inner and outer storytelling. Host Haritosh Srivastav explores the essential difference between a fixed and growth mindset, drawing on insights from Dr. Carol Dweck’s influential book, Mindset. With practical examples and engaging reflections, Haritosh discusses how to reframe self-talk, using simple techniques like adding the word "yet" to statements.
Listeners will learn why the stories we tell ourselves—like “I’m not good at storytelling” versus “I’m improving my storytelling”—impact our lives and growth journeys profoundly. Haritosh also shares tips for external storytelling, helping professionals, entrepreneurs, and coaches convey their stories as inspiring journeys of transformation rather than obstacles.
The episode wraps up with a personal growth story prompt designed to help you shift your mindset towards growth. Tune in for actionable insights, inspiring stories, and practical steps that will empower you to tell a more positive, growth-oriented story to yourself and others. Listen, reflect, and start rewriting your personal narrative with a growth mindset!
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Stay tuned, and as always: keep learning, keep growing, and keep stepping out of your comfort zone.
[00:00:00] What if the stories you tell yourself could be the secret to achieving more in life? What exactly is a Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset? And what is the idea that Storytelling is not just for others but it's also a powerful tool for shaping our inner narrative?
[00:00:25] Stay tuned for this episode of Confident Storytelling Podcast.
[00:00:58] How You Can Be The Next Confident Storyteller?
[00:01:02] Let's Get Started!
[00:01:08] So I don't exactly recall what was the year when I got hold of this amazing book called Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck.
[00:01:19] But what I do remember is that this book has really changed the way I look at things.
[00:01:30] And if you haven't had a chance to go through the book, I do highly recommend that you go through this book because some of the concepts I'll be taking from that book itself.
[00:01:40] And what I'm going to do is bring a perspective when it comes to storytelling and how having a fixed or growth mindset shapes your journey, shapes your narrative that you tell to others but most importantly to yourself as well.
[00:02:03] So let's first understand what exactly is a growth mindset.
[00:02:08] If you go by the Dr. Carol Dweck and what I understand it, the growth mindset is all about taking challenges as opportunities.
[00:02:21] You see, there was various studies done and I don't want to get into all the details, but the fixed mindset is where people think either they have it or they don't have it.
[00:02:35] Either they have the talent or they don't have the talent and it's very, very relevant when it comes to storytelling as well that people think that either I am a good storyteller or I am a terrible storyteller.
[00:02:46] I can't become a good storyteller.
[00:02:49] I can't become a good storyteller.
[00:02:49] While the growth mindset is all about growth.
[00:02:53] So you can evolve, you can learn, you can grow as a better storyteller.
[00:03:01] And I've seen it time and again that when people adapt to this mindset, they start seeing positive changes, gradual changes, but long lasting changes.
[00:03:15] And it could be anything.
[00:03:19] Think about your life as well where in your life, when you think about a failure, do you think that it is a permanent failure or do you think about it as something which is a stepping stone towards success?
[00:03:37] So that is the primary difference between fixed mindset and growth mindset.
[00:03:43] And let's now take it to the context of storytelling.
[00:03:48] How do we use the growth mindset?
[00:03:52] You see, a lot of time we think about the external storytelling and we'll talk about that in a minute.
[00:04:01] But first we need to look at the self narrative, the stories we tell ourself.
[00:04:09] You see, when you are talking to yourself, by the way, everybody talks to themselves.
[00:04:16] So we all know that.
[00:04:19] Are you telling yourself that you are not good at something or you are still learning and improving?
[00:04:27] I'll give you another example.
[00:04:29] In our confidence storytelling hub, we have this weekly mastermind sessions and a lot of time I will interrupt the community members when they get, you know, they get inspired by other speakers.
[00:04:47] And they'll say, wow, he's amazing or she is amazing.
[00:04:51] But I am not.
[00:04:52] And many a times I interrupt them that please do not tell this story to yourself.
[00:04:59] You are part of the community to start telling that I am learning.
[00:05:03] I need to improve.
[00:05:05] I am improving because these are the positive stories we tell.
[00:05:10] We should tell ourselves because as they say, our mind is wired for negativity.
[00:05:16] So it does take some effort from our end to change that.
[00:05:23] So every time and this is an exercise for you as well, that every time you are telling yourself a negative story, self limiting story, think about how you can change that to a positive.
[00:05:37] And instead of saying that I don't have, I'm not good at, how can you say that I am in the process of, I am learning.
[00:05:46] One of the powerful things that I learned in this book was the use of a word called yet.
[00:05:52] Yet.
[00:05:54] So when you use the word yet, it is such an empowering word.
[00:06:02] And let me give you an example.
[00:06:04] Let's say you want to, let's say you want to address a number of people or address a town hall.
[00:06:17] You can say that I have not addressed the town hall.
[00:06:25] Or you can say, I have not addressed the town hall yet.
[00:06:31] Do you feel the difference?
[00:06:33] You can say, I have not yet written a book.
[00:06:38] Or you can say, I have not written a book.
[00:06:43] You see not versus not yet.
[00:06:46] When you say not, it's basically blocking limiting.
[00:06:50] But when you say not yet, you're keeping a small window open.
[00:06:55] So that is what I think we need to major, we need to majorly work on ourselves is telling ourselves powerful, positive stories, stories which are not limiting but empowering.
[00:07:10] Now let's talk about the external storytelling as well, because you also need to inspire others.
[00:07:17] You need to strengthen your connection.
[00:07:20] So whenever you have a chance to share your story, either you can do it in the form of what people were not able to achieve, what were the challenges they faced, or you can change it as a journey, as a journey of transformation, as a journey of learning, as a journey of growing.
[00:07:42] Because when you do that, when you bring a positive outlook to anything that you do, you can start to feel the difference.
[00:07:52] So that's what I wanted to share.
[00:07:54] This is very, very powerful.
[00:07:56] And while thinking about the topic, this came into my mind.
[00:08:00] So I want to leave you with one personal reflection exercise.
[00:08:05] And this exercise, I want you to call it as a growth story.
[00:08:09] And this is where I'm going to give you a prompt and I want you to listen to it very carefully.
[00:08:15] And even if you have to go back and re-listen, that's completely fine.
[00:08:20] Listen to this prompt and think about how are you going to respond.
[00:08:25] And that question is, what is that one story you can tell today, which will lead to a growth mindset?
[00:08:38] Let me repeat.
[00:08:41] What is the one story you will tell yourself today that will lead to a growth mindset?
[00:08:49] So that was the episode.
[00:08:51] We talked briefly about the mindset, growth mindset versus fixed mindset, how it impacts our personal narrative, our self narrative, and how you can use that for talking to others,
[00:09:08] and how you can use that for external storytelling as well.
[00:09:11] So use that prompt that I talked to you.
[00:09:14] And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, please do so.
[00:09:20] And if you want to take this to the next level, I invite you to be part of Confident Storytelling Hub,
[00:09:27] where we work with working professional, mid and senior level working professional, a lot of business owners, entrepreneurs, as well as coaches, both aspiring as well as well established coaches to help them share their voice through the magical power of storytelling.
[00:09:50] So I would love for you to come and be part of it.
[00:09:53] You can go to school.confidentestoytellinghub.com or you can reach out to me through DM for more details.
[00:10:02] And remember to tell yourself a growth story.
[00:10:05] I'll see you in the next episode.
[00:10:13] Thank you so much for listening to this episode of SpotCast.
[00:10:17] Hope you found this useful.
[00:10:19] If you did, rate us on Apple Podcasts so that it reaches more people.
[00:10:25] Do share this episode with someone who may need to hear this.
[00:10:28] I can't wait to see you for the next week's episode.
[00:10:32] You can also take a screenshot and tag me on Instagram as Coach Harito Srivastava.
[00:10:37] I hope you have a lovely day ahead.
[00:10:40] Until next time, as I say every time, keep learning, keep growing and keep going out of your comfort zone.
[00:10:48] This is Harito Srivastava.
[00:10:50] See you next week.