Failure is inevitable. You can’t escape this story. A fixed mindset discourages learning because it avoids making mistakes. It protects the ego from failure. In a fixed mindset, you avoid taking on challenging tasks or learning new skills because you fear making mistakes.

If a person believes their intelligence is fixed and cannot be developed, they tend to shy away from difficult projects at work to avoid the risk of errors. This reluctance stems from a desire to protect their self-image. Too often failure is perceived as a reflection of inherent abilities. As a consequence, this mindset will hinder their learning and growth opportunities.

A growth mindset encourages learning because it accepts that making mistakes is a quick way to learn. It recognises that facing challenges, making mistakes, and finding different ways to overcome obstacles is the way forward. In a growth mindset, you embrace challenges and view mistakes as opportunities for learning. You reframe your failures as lessons, and keep taking necessary risks.

A student who approaches a difficult maths problem, instead of fearing errors, they engage with the problem, knowing that each mistake refines their process by indicating what not to do, or what is or isn’t necessary. Each mistake is a step closer to understanding. This mindset encourages experimentation, resilience, and the belief that facing challenges head-on leads to improvement and a growth in knowledge, skills and experience. The student recognises that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process and a pathway to discovering more effective solutions.

One way to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset is to journal with the archetype of Failure.

Journal Prompts for the Archetype of Failure

1. Explain how this archetype can promote and also prevent a lifelong learning mindset.

2. Describe how failure affects you.

3. Explain how you currently manage failure by outlining your strategy.

4. Brainstorm how you can improve your strategy.

5. Describe how a deeper understanding and acceptance of this archetype within yourself may contribute to your personal growth and self-compassion.

You don’t need to restrict what you can get from failure. Collaborating with the archetype of Failure is good for you. Knowledge plus skills equals experience. Over time, it develops wisdom. Without question, establishing and maintaining a growth mindset supports the evolution of your soul.