The Growth Mindset & Brain Plasticity

Neuroplasticity – your brain can rewire with a growth mindset!

by: Meron Nephtalem 

Graphic by Melissa Lemieux

All throughout middle and high school, you were probably endlessly taught about the “growth mindset.” If you weren’t, the growth mindset is essentially the belief that our abilities can be improved through effort, learning, and persistence. As annoying as it was to hear about this at the beginning of every school year, it’s something we can apply to our lives now more than ever. 

As college students, many of us encounter countless opportunities to get involved and learn new things. Whether this is joining a new club or taking a demanding class, change is inevitable. Trying new things is important, it helps us grow…but why?  

The brain has plasticity — so, essentially, you can change the way your neurons communicate. By trying new things and embracing challenges, you are opening up a world of new neural connections and cognitive development. When learning how to play the piano, for example, you memorize notes, develop hand-eye coordination, and learn finger movements. Neural connections in fine motor control, memory, and auditory processing strengthen. 

This is exactly why picking up new skills and challenging yourself, through the growth mindset, is vital in self-growth and improvement. Often, we don’t like to do certain things, not “just because” we don’t like it, but because we are uncomfortable with it. For example, if you hate running and swore it off, you are likely uncomfortable with what running entails: physical pain/soreness, mental push, and shortness of breath. Maybe if you ran twice a week, you’d get better at it, and grow to love it. Similarly, learning a new language is challenging. However, learning a second language can lead to greater auditory cortex activity and improved cognition with age.