October 29, 2025

E36 Developing a Growth Mindset: How to Grow Beyond Your Fixed Thinking

52 minutes

Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Guest: Carly Anderson, Ph.D., LP, CMPC, Owner/Founder | Sport Psychologist - Premier Sport Psychology

Are you someone who tends to think improvement is too difficult, not achievable, or often out of your control? Do you tend to fear mistakes before you make them, and then loathe them afterwards? Those may be signs of a fixed mindset, and that can really be stunting your progress, confidence, and overall joy. We need to change that.

To discuss how, our session today is titled: Developing a Growth Mindset: How to Grow Beyond Your Fixed Thinking Our expert guest today is Dr. Carly Anderson, founder and Senior Principal Sport Psychologist for Premier Sport Psychology, and she is going to help us answer our big three questions:

1. What is a growth mindset—and why does it matter?

2. Why do we tend to default to a fixed mindset and what are the consequences?

3. What steps can we take to build a growth mindset so we can flourish in both life and work?

How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”:

Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better

Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random)

Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes

Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions in the PDF for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action!

Discussion Questions for this Episode:

1) After reviewing this episode, how do you personally define a "growth mindset"?

2) Many of the benefits of having a growth mindset are obvious, but some are not as obvious. Which of the benefits of having a growth mindset was the most surprising, or most impactful to you?

3) List at least 5 common behaviors or habits you have that tend to highlight a "fixed mindset." Now list 5 that highlight your ability to have a "growth mindset."

4) We all tend to spend some time with a fixed mindset, and some in a growth mindset. What are the things (triggers) that commonly push you towards a fixed mindset rather than growth? Now that you've named them, how can you be on the lookout for them?

5) In what areas of your life are you worried about failure? What is it about that failure that you actually fear? What steps can you take to work through this?

6) In section three of the podcast, we listed over 10 steps you can take to move towards a "growth mindset." Pick three of these that most resonated with you and discuss why you think those three can be impactful in your life?

7) Tell your group at least one new thing (action step) you are going to do or behavior you are going to adopt to improve your growth mindset.

8) After others list the "one new thing" of "action step" they are going to do, help them refine that to make it clear: clear, objective, measurable, and simple.

The more we can make our actions clear, objective, measurable, and simple, the more likely we are to do them and enjoy the process!

Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize

X: @MayoHumanOpProj

Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj

YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube

Email: [email protected]

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By Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development

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