Daily Reading Exercise: Mindset

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My take on the reading

Today, I delved further into Carol S. Dweck’s “Mindset” book, focusing on a chapter that resonated with me about the learnability of artistic ability. The chapter highlighted that while some individuals may seem more naturally gifted, artistic skills are indeed acquireable through effort and learning. This concept brought to mind a past discussion where someone questioned my belief that people could develop artistic skills with dedication.

Upon reflection, I now feel validated in my perspective after reading this chapter. It reinforced my belief that abilities and skills are malleable and can be improved over time with consistent effort. The individual I once debated with may have had a limited view, lacking an understanding of the learnable components of artistic skills.

Furthermore, the chapter emphasized the importance of praising effort over inherent ability. Positive labels, when overly used, can create a fixed mindset, where individuals become defensive and resistant to criticism. On the other hand, a growth mindset embraces challenges and failures as opportunities for growth. This resonated with me, as I have observed the impact of praising effort in fostering resilience and a passion for learning.

In essence, the chapter underscored the power of a growth mindset, where negative labels can be catalysts for personal development. A growth mindset liberates individuals from limiting thoughts and empowers them to embrace challenges as avenues for growth, fostering a resilient and adaptable mindset.

Vocabulary for the day

• multifaceted
  • The city is a multifaceted place, offering diverse opportunities for work, entertainment, and cultural experiences.
• composition
  • Her musical composition showcased a beautiful blend of melodies and harmonies.
• adorn
  • make more beautiful or atractive
  • She chose a delicate necklace to adorn her outfit for the evening.
• prelude
  • preliminary
  • action or event serving as introduction to something more important
  • The prelude to the event set a festive mood with lively music and colorful decorations.
• astonishment
  • great surprise
  • His sudden appearance at the party left everyone in astonishment.
• choreographer
  • a person who composes the sequence of steps and moves for a performance of dance
  • The choreographer meticulously planned each dance move for the upcoming performance.
• churning
  • stir, move or cause to move about vigorously
  • The stormy sea was churning with powerful waves, creating a turbulent and unpredictable environment for sailors.
• raved
  • After watching the movie, she couldn’t help but rave about the brilliant acting and captivating storyline.
• plummeted
  • fall or drop at high speed
  • The temperature plummeted, causing a sudden drop in weather conditions and catching everyone by surprise.
• therein
  • in that place
  • She found the answer to her question therein, hidden within the pages of the old book.
• succumbed
  • yield, fail to resist, give away
  • Despite his efforts, he eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
• resonate
  • produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound
  • The speaker’s words about kindness and empathy truly resonate with me on a personal level.
• pedigree
  • ancestry, record of descent
  • The dog’s pedigree showed its family history of purebred ancestors.
• pompous
  • self-important
  • He spoke in a pompous manner, using big words to impress everyone in the room.
• condescending
  • superior patronize
  • having or showing a feeling of patronizing superior
  • She gave me a condescending look when I asked a question in English.
• prejudice
  • He was treated unfairly due to prejudice against his background.
• ingrained
  • difficult to change
  • Ingrained habits are challenging to change.
• deodorant
  • body spray
  • Make sure to use deodorant after your shower to stay fresh throughout the day.
• strewn
  • scatter
  • The fallen leaves were strewn across the path after the windy night.
• afflict
  • cause pain, suffering
  • The disease continued to afflict the population, causing widespread concern.
• aghast
  • filled with horror, shock
  • She stood aghast at the unexpected turn of events.
• inconceivable
  • unbelievable
  • The sudden change in weather was inconceivable, surprising everyone in the town.