Braving the Unknown: How a Growth Mindset and Curiosity Can Alleviate Anxiety in an Uncertain World

I am, to put it mildly, “on the anxious side.” And the extent of change and uncertainty in the last few years has been too much for my liking. For many of us who are wired to scan the world for dangers, the unpredictability of life can feel overwhelming.

Can we transform this anxiety into a satisfying journey of growth and discovery?

What helps me is that I am intensely, intrinsically curious. I also intensely, intrinsically enjoy learning. Curiosity and a growth mindset can be a powerful duo when facing uncertainty.

Growth Mindset: Transforming Anxiety into Opportunity

Developed by Carol Dweck , the concept of a 'growth mindset' has revolutionized the way we understand learning and ability. Dweck's seminal work contrasts a 'fixed mindset,' which frames abilities as innate and unchangeable, with a 'growth mindset,' which views abilities as malleable and developed through effort and persistence. Embracing a growth mindset means recognizing that every challenge or unknown is an opportunity to learn and develop. The more we engage with the unknown, the more we learn, and the more competent and confident we become in handling future uncertainties.

?Although it was first studied in the context of classroom learning, the implications of a growth mindset extend far beyond the classroom and into every area of life. For the anxiety-prone, a growth mindset offers a welcome perspective: viewing uncertainty as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat.

When coupled with curiosity, the growth mindset turns the anxiety-inducing unknown into a playground of possibilities, and the continuous journey of learning can become a buffer against anxiety.

The Power of Curiosity

Curiosity, the eagerness to know or learn something, is a fantastic companion to a growth mindset. It's the spark that ignites exploration and learning. Psychologists have found that curiosity leads to higher levels of positive emotions and greater psychological well-being .

Curiosity, by its very nature, counters fear. It encourages us to explore and understand rather than avoid and fear the unknown. This exploration can be liberating; it allows for a deeper engagement with life, leading to richer experiences and a sense of fulfillment. It can also result in the experience of flow.

How Growth Mindset and Curiosity Can Lead to Flow

Flow, as conceptualized by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi , is a state of deep immersion and enjoyment in an activity, achieved when a person's skill level matches and is somewhat tested by the task. Research highlights that a growth mindset supports developing abilities through persistence . This mindset nurtures a readiness to embrace and overcome challenges, setting the stage for flow. Curiosity, on the other hand, plays a vital role in maintaining deep engagement with these tasks. Studies have shown that curiosity leads to higher levels of enjoyment when learning ; this intrinsic drive is a key factor in achieving flow as we engage in our pursuits with full attention and interest. Thus, a growth mindset coupled with curiosity creates an optimal environment for the joy of flow that leaves little space for anxiety and helps us develop skills while we are having a great time.

Grow in the Flow

One significant barrier to experiencing flow is the fear of failure or performance anxiety. A growth mindset addresses this by reframing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning rather than threats to self-worth . This perspective reduces anxiety and promotes a more relaxed and focused state of mind, a vital precondition for flow.

In parallel, continuous learning and skill development support maintaining flow, and flow supports skill development. As one's abilities increase, the level of challenge required for flow also rises. Curiosity drives us to keep learning and developing, creating a virtuous cycle of learning and enjoyment. While curiosity and a growth mindset are not a “cure” for all anxiety and for the realities of life, their positive effects on developing skills and enjoying the process are well-documented.

But how can an anxious person develop flow?

1. Let your curiosity lead you: Focus on activities you find genuinely interesting and engaging. These should be tasks that are neither too easy (which can lead to boredom) nor too hard (which might increase anxiety). The activity should be something that challenges your skills in a manageable way.
2. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome: Shift your focus from the end results to the process of doing the activity. Enjoying the process helps reduce performance anxiety and facilitates the immersion needed for flow; it is an essential aspect of the growth mindset.
3. Build Self-Compassion: Self-compassion can reduce the pressure to perform perfectly, which is crucial for experiencing flow. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that failing, struggling, and worrying are aspects of being human.

In essence, embracing a growth mindset and nurturing curiosity isn't just about coping with uncertainty – it's about transforming our relationship with it. Instead of viewing life's unpredictability as a fearsome force, we can see it as a playground of learning to be explored. Anxiety turns into eager anticipation. For those of us who often feel the weight of worry, this shift in perspective and learning to find joy in the unknown can be particularly empowering.

Newsletter items:

????? Check out this post by my friend Christopher Littlefield who went from struggling with writing and learning to authoring one of the top Harvard Business Review articles of the year! How empowering is that? I am joyful and thankful to share this great win. Fittingly, the article is about writing thank-you emails after an interview ! ??

***

?????? Fresh off the press, a volume of research-based papers I edited, "Evidence-Based Organizational Practices for Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Equity."

Order from the publisher, https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-2896-3 ; PROMO CODE PROMO25;

order from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Based-Organizational-Practices-Diversity-Inclusion/dp/1527528960/ , recommend it to your library!??

***

??????Take a look at the interview I gave with the wonderful Jennifer Nash, author of Be Human, Lead Human. She asked some questions that many people ask when starting on a journey of exploring their neurodivergence and navigating it in the workplace. Would you like for your manager to treat you as "special"? ??