Why “Mindset” Is Bad Langauge
Words can help or hinder a person but it all depends on exactly what they mean
A proper ‘Mindset’ is such a stupid thing to try to achieve when you`ve got mental health problems.
I think it’s ironic when I hear how adopting a better ‘mindset’ is going to improve you and how healing will begin with this new framework that you will attempt to adopt.
Worse again, is for professionals to tell people who are suffering from mental health issues that:
‘You need to adopt a growth mindset’
Why am I so peeved by this?
Well, the answer is simple.
From a true standpoint of mental health, the word ‘mindset’ can be contradictory in what it’s supposed to represent.
Let me explain.
What is Mindset?:
The Oxford English dictionary defines ‘mindset’ as:
“The established set of attitudes held by someone.”
Therein lays the problem.
True, it’s very important to understand that you are, in part, what you’ve been conditioned to
be. With that, I`ve no problem. Sure, if you`ve had a poor upbringing, been bullied, harassed, threatened, or had some form of abuse that experience can ‘establish a set of attitudes’ in your mind but, this is not the only power within your mind.
For attitudes to be ‘held’ can also be true to a point, but again it ignores your mind’s wandering capabilities.
A ‘Set’ Mind:
To change your mind you must first realize that it’s not exactly ‘set’.
It’s said that ‘Mindset’ implies that your intelligence or talent may be either fixed or changeable.
For me, to a person who may be suffering mentally, this gives too much room for doubt.
Why? well, as some definitions of the word ‘set’ by the same Oxford dictionary state that it is:
“to prepare or arrange something so that it is ready for use or in position”
or by ‘setting’ something you:
“fix something so that others copy it or try to achieve it”.
For sure, for it to be prepared for use can be seen as a positive thing for the mind but on the other hand, to see the word ‘set’ as being fixed can be detrimental.
There are all types of people who may have mental health issues. By using a word that can have several meanings it can be perceived as halting the mind and keeping it where it is.
After all, if someone is in a poor state of mind they may come to believe they are ‘set’ in that mind frame forever.
What is a fixed mindset?:
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck has some interesting takes on mindset.
Her extensive psychological research found that a ‘fixed’ mindset finds that your intelligence, creative ability, and character are what they are, and will not change. I`m sure you realize by now that I don’t agree with this idea at all and you`d be right in thinking that. In so doing, you`ve proven to yourself that by reading this far you’ve used your intelligence enough to adapt your thoughts to my way of thinking for now which in effect, proves your mind is not ‘fixed’.
And now you’re closer to fully understanding what’s best for your mental health.
What is a growth mindset?:
Dweck also proposed that by having a “growth mindset” that you can develop your mind.
So even though you may have suffered some horrible experience in your past you may be able to leave it behind and begin to prosper in the future, and in doing so, ‘grow’ your mind.
Although, I’m way more in favor of this ‘growth’, but still don’t see why it should be used in tandem with ‘mindset’.
Are You Confused Yet?:
If you’re confused by now I completely understand.
But it’s not what I’m aiming for. Rather, if you are confused at least you know you’ve tried to
figure out what I`m getting at here. In doing so, you’ve at least tried to contemplate things differently. That’s enough to show a type of movement of thoughts.
And with all movement, it means there is the ability to change and possibly grow.
Proper language aids mental health:
Before we even contemplate what the best things are for mental health we need to acknowledge that the language we use has a major impact on the person that listens to it.
That listener may have a mental health issue or they may be at the very least wondering about what mental health represents. Either way, we need to use language in its proper context because it has the potential to educate others. Don’t get me wrong I`m well aware that I`m being pedantic here.
But that’s one of the things about mental health that if you think too much you can look deeper into things where you’ll always find something that will either help or hinder you.
After all, we all can grow our minds but it’s how we use the language we first learn that will dictate if our minds will be understood as weeds or flowers.
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