A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning. It contrasts with a "fixed mindset," the belief that talent is innate and unchangeable. The concept was popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck.
For athletes, the difference is significant. An athlete with a fixed mindset tends to see setbacks as proof of their limits, avoids challenges that might expose weakness, and gives up more easily. An athlete with a growth mindset treats setbacks as information, embraces challenges as opportunities to improve, and persists through difficulty because they believe effort leads to growth.
This mindset is closely tied to resilience and recovering from losses. When failure is seen as feedback rather than a verdict, athletes bounce back faster and keep developing. A growth mindset can itself be cultivated — through the language we use (praising effort and strategy over innate talent), how we frame mistakes, and deliberately reinterpreting setbacks as steps in a process.