Positive Mindset. An idea that has exploded in the past couple years and found itself posted in institutions around the world, but what does it actually mean? Mindset, as defined by the Stanford Report , is “the assumptions and expectations you hold about yourself, your life and the situations around you” and can play a monumental role in the outcome of a situation.
Mindsets have been linked to changes in physical health such as blood pressure, risk for heart disease, blood sugars, and lifespan as well as mental health issues, like anxiety, and depression.
In 2017, a study done by Mckinsey and Company found that students with a “growth mindset”—those who believe they can succeed if they work hard—performed 9 to 17 percent better than those with a “fixed mindset”—those who believe their capabilities are static. They also found that mindset played a larger role in success than socioeconomic status did all over the world.
At Sentinel, many teachers have seen this trend firsthand through their years of experience. For example, Betty Bennet, a teacher in the english department who has worked for MCPS for 46 years with 27 of them being at Sentinel, noted that some students “tend to not have curiosity” about the things they are learning, but the students who do have this curiosity and open mindedness “are willing to look beyond the lesson and see how these [lessons] connect and affect the world we are living in today”.
She highlighted the importance of being able to make these connections between the past and the present so that we don’t have to “repeat history” to relearn these lessons.
Similarly, Tammy Allison, also an English teacher at Sentinel, has found that students with a positive mindset tend to “find the things they are passionate about”. She also notices that all students, even students who come into Sentinel with difficult home lives who “lean into learning” have found success in their classes and their lives.
First hand accounts back up research and prove that mindset extends to one’s entire life.
So how do students improve their mindset? There are a plethora of ways to go about shifting mindset and thought patterns both in and outside of school.
Teachers at Sentinel feel strongly about how to best help their students succeed and each have unique ideas and advice.
When asked about the best way for their students to grow their mindset and be successful, Bennet, Allison, and Anderson all had their own advice to give.
Bennet encourages her students to “stay curious” and to follow what is going on in the world. This advice can be backed up with a study by the Harvard Business Publishing that finds curiosity is one of the biggest factors in which people are likely to become successful, make money, and have a stable job.
A study done by the National Institute of Health found that curiosity enhances learning and is central in development throughout a person’s life and especially in youth.
Allison recommends that her students find their topic of interest, such as extracurricular clubs, arts, or sports and that they “trust [their] guts” and follow their dreams. Research done at Stanford and published in the Stanford Business Publication furthers this advice and mentions that when people do things they are passionate about, they increase motivation, productivity, and happiness which leads to an overall more positive mindset.
Finally, Lisa Anderson, a math teacher at Sentinel, suggests that students who want to improve their mindset and school mentality should “spend time around other people with positive mindsets”. This too, is advice based on data. The National Institute of Health has published multiple articles and papers on the influence of peers and friends. They have found that by surrounding oneself with positive and motivated people actually increases mindset and positive thinking patterns.
Research on the subject of positive mindset and happiness has been increasing in the last few years and with that research has come applicable strategies that can be used to improve personal mindset.
One of the most influential factors on mindset is gratitude. The Institute of Youth Development and Excellence has found that not only does gratitude improve mindset, it also improves social bonds, physical health, and mental health.
Professors at the University of Pennsylvania have found that regularly practicing gratitude can increase happiness up to 25% with results appearing in under three weeks.
Dr. Laurie Santos is a cognitive scientist who worlds with mindset and happiness. She is a professor at Yale University and works to teach her students and others how to lead more fulfilling lives. She found that 40% of a person’s happiness is completely under their control and can be changed based on mindset.
This means that altering thinking patterns can greatly affect a person’s happiness and success and lead them to a more satisfied life. While spending five minutes noting things one is grateful for may seem like a waste of time, even a few minutes every day can greatly improve results and effects.
The second most important factor is setting healthy patterns and habits. Harvard Health has found that practicing regular physical activity increases memory, critical thinking skills, and outlook on life. This pattern is consistent with other factors such as sleep patterns, food, and extracurricular activities.
Creating healthy patterns such as these improves multiple aspects of one’s life.
Another habit that can be cultivated is meditation. While younger people usually dismiss meditation as unhelpful, it is thought to increase focus and to provide reflection which can tie back into gratitude. For hundreds of years, humans have practiced meditation in different forms, and while there are few conclusive research papers linking it directly to happiness, it is directly linked to reduced stress, improved memory, better sleep, and much more that can help with improving mindset.
Overall, mindset is fluid and can be changed and shaped throughout one’s life by practicing different techniques. Students at Sentinel High School can utilize this information as well as the support and encouragement of their teachers to be more successful and enjoy learning.
