Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: What’s Holding You Back?

One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen change lives—my own included—is learning the difference between a fixed mindsetand a growth mindset.

A fixed mindset says, “This is just how I am.” It believes that your habits, personality, intelligence, and even your health are stuck the way they are. If something’s hard, it must mean you’re not cut out for it. If you struggle, you’ve failed.

That mindset can sneak in quietly.
“I’m bad at exercise.”
“I’ve always been an emotional eater.”
“I’m just not a morning person.”
We repeat these stories until they feel like facts.

But here’s the truth: none of those things are set in stone.

A growth mindset says, “I’m learning.”
It understands that change takes time, and that effort is part of the process. It’s the mindset that asks, What if this is just the beginning?

I see this in my clinic all the time. People come in exhausted, overwhelmed, frustrated that they can’t “stick” to healthy habits. And most of the time, it’s not about willpower—it’s about mindset. When we think we have to do everything perfectly, we set ourselves up to burn out. And when that happens, we stop doing even the basics.

That’s why I always come back to this:
Start simple. Start kind. Start small.

Instead of asking, Why can’t I figure this out?, try asking, What’s one thing I can try differently today?
Instead of saying, I failed again, say, I’m still figuring this out.

Change doesn’t come from shame.
It comes from curiosity, compassion, and consistency.

So take a moment today and check in:
Are you stuck in a fixed mindset in any area of your life?
What would shift if you approached it with a little more flexibility, grace, and belief in your ability to grow?

You don’t have to have it all together.
You just have to believe that change is possible—and be willing to keep showing up.