Lesson
Mindset and Why It Matters
Explore how your mindset affects your success.
Mindset and Why It Matters
Mindset refers to the collection of beliefs, attitudes, and thought patterns that shape how we approach challenges and opportunities in our lives.
Your mindset directly influences things like how much you believe in your ability to change, how you respond to setbacks, and the strategies you employ to overcome obstacles in your journey.
If you think you can’t, you probably won’t.
In other words - believing you can grow, change, adapt, and find new ways of enjoying life is the first step to doing so. Changing your behavior around gambling can be difficult, and the right mindset can be vital in helping you overcome the hold that gambling has had on you.
In this lesson, we’ll explore the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and how that affects our ability to change.
Your Mindset
You can think of your mindset like a “mental lens” through which you view yourself, others, and your circumstances.
Just like the prescription strength of a pair of glasses, mindset can be changed.
You can cultivate and alter your thought patterns through conscious effort and self-awareness, and better position yourself to accomplish what you desire.
There are two types of mindsets that we talk about at Evive:
A Fixed Mindset is a perception that nothing changes. Everyone is born a certain way, with specific traits and abilities that are unable to be altered.
A Growth Mindset involves believing that everyone can change and grow, as long as they put in the effort.
Our goal is to help you cultivate a growth mindset. It involves actively reframing how you think about your situation and yourself, in a couple fundamental areas:
You have the power to make positive choices.
Your setbacks are opportunities to learn on the path to success.
You are constantly evolving, and your effort and experience directly impacts how you are changing.
Fixed Mindset v. Growth Mindset
Let’s look at how someone with a fixed mindset views situations compared to someone with a growth mindset.
Self-Belief
Fixed Mindset: "I've always been a gambler. It's just who I am, and I can't change that."
Growth Mindset: "I may have struggled with gambling in the past, but I believe I have the strength and determination to overcome it with the right support and effort."
Resilience
Fixed Mindset: "I relapsed again. I'll never be able to break free from problem gambling."
Growth Mindset: "Relapses are setbacks, but they're also opportunities to learn and grow stronger in my journey towards lasting change."
Openness to Change
Fixed Mindset: "I've tried quitting before, but it never works. Nothing will ever change."
Growth Mindset: "I'm willing to explore new strategies and approaches to address my gambling problem. Change is possible if I remain open-minded and committed to my goals."
Self-Acceptance
Fixed Mindset: "I'm a failure because I can't control my gambling urges."
Growth Mindset: "I accept that I have a gambling problem, but I also recognize that it doesn't define my worth as a person. I'm capable of making positive changes in my life."
Building Positive Habits
Fixed Mindset: "I've tried to quit gambling before, but I always end up falling back into old habits. I'll never be able to change."
Growth Mindset: "Developing new habits takes time and effort. Each day presents an opportunity for me to make positive choices and reinforce healthier behaviors. I believe in my ability to create lasting change through consistent effort and determination."
Building a Support Network
Fixed Mindset: "I don't want my family to know about my gambling problem. They'll judge me and think less of me."
Growth Mindset: "I understand the importance of seeking help from my loved ones and support groups. They can provide the encouragement and guidance I need to overcome problem gambling."
We will offer a number of tactics to help cultivate and maintain a growth mindset in later lessons. For now, focus on elevating your mindset and daily way of thinking.
When you stumble in the face of difficulties, if you hear the negative voice creep in saying “I can’t do this”, change it to: “I can’t do this YET.”
Let's Reflect
Reflect on a recent setback or failure in your journey. Did you attribute it to factors beyond your control, such as luck or external circumstances, or did you see it as an opportunity for learning and growth, recognizing areas for improvement and resilience?
Consider your long-term goals in relation to your gambling behavior. Do you believe that your current abilities and behaviors are fixed and unchangeable, or do you see them as capable of improvement over time? How does your mindset influence your approach to achieving these goals?
Closing Thought
Remind yourself that you can learn and grow. You are resilient.
With the right support, and a positive mindset, you will stay dedicated to the changes you want to make in your life.
You will set the stage for lasting change and the achievement of a more fulfilling and balanced life beyond gambling.