Wobbly pots and the growth mindset
These are two pots I have just made on a ceramics course. They are wobbly and imperfect. It took me a while but I am happy with them.
As I entered the ceramics course I was nervous. I hadn't been in an art class for 30 years. I felt under pressure to produce a perfect pot and quickly. Anyone who knows anything about pottery and throwing is it take at least 5 years to master. So why would I reach perfection in 1 hour?
I found myself getting more and more frustrated and stressed. I looked at those around me who seemed to be able to throw perfectly and were churning out pot after pot. I then stopped. I had walked into the class with a fixed mindset, perhaps a mindset I would have had when I was 13.
Why did I find the process so challenging?
I was out of my comfort zone
I was learning something completely new
I had set myself unrealistic expectations
What did I do the next week?
After quite a lot of reflecting I realised that it really didn't matter if I produced an imperfect pot or no pot at all. What I needed to do was to shift my mindset. I needed to:-
To focus on the process of learning not the result. Learning something new is a chance to grow, to challenge yourself to identify your strengths and weaknesses. At work we are often so focused on the outcome we forget to enjoy and embrace the process.
Stop and observe what I was finding so stressful. Being able to know your 'warning signs' and behaviours that are not positive helps you to know when to pull back, stop, breath and reflect before moving forward is a really powerful tool.
Think about the story I was telling myself. I immediately told myself the story that I wasn't able to make a good pot, I was no good, it will never work. Being aware of your 'story' and calling it just that helps you to re-write it. My new story was - I'm learning how to make pots, what I make will be a reflection of me, it doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
If you want to learn more about growing and dealing with the challenges that many of us face in fundraising, then do get in touch.