While there are no treadmills for the mind or ellipticals for our neurons, science tells us that mental exercise can help us obtain a growth mindset . The American Psychological Association defines a growth mindset as “the belief that a person’s intelligence and abilities can grow and improve with practice.” A growth mindset is the antithesis of a “fixed mindset,” which people exhibit when they quickly give up if they can’t solve a problem. Nurturing a growth mindset, in contrast, can help you view failure or setbacks as opportunities for learning. MORE THAN EFFORT Having a growth mindset is about more than just effort. It is the belief that you can develop your abilities and talents, as well as a perspective on how you approach life’s lessons and learning. That belief allows you to learn more quickly and achieve greater results, no matter what you aim to achieve. This does not mean simply having an open mind; it also means finding a way to continue striving to improve your knowledge, attitude, and performance. Some call it having “grit.” CULTIVATING SUCCESS With a growth mindset, success plays second fiddle to self-improvement. Celebrating the effort we put into each task motivates and encourages us to work harder and accomplish more in the future. Rather than focusing on the destination, the focus is on the journey. A growth mindset is a great way to become more positive, successful, and adaptable. By incorporating more facets of a growth mindset into your life, you will be well on your way to changing things for the better.
P sychology of S uccess HARNESSING THE POWER OF A GROWTH MINDSET
W hy R esolution B eats A ggression in D ivorce P roceedings NO NEED FOR THE BULLDOG MENTALITY negatively affects every member of the family. The conflict that creates divorce can destroy people; more often than not, the little people feel the disastrous effects the most. While our attorneys are armed and ready for whatever courtroom battle or litigation they’re facing, they aren’t always kicking down the door to fight. We would rather see what we can resolve before blowing up a situation. We don’t want to antagonize the other attorney or be mean; instead, we want to fight for our client and their wants, which we can do through resolution. We’ve had experiences with opposing counsel who like to get aggressive right off the bat. Through resolution tactics, we can calm the situation down and get what’s best for everyone involved, especially our client. Some attorneys want us to match their nastiness, but you truly get more bees with honey than vinegar. Not responding in a way that’s advantageous for the other party helps us find better solutions for our clients. While aggressive tactics can be beneficial depending on the situation or case, not every case requires a bulldog attorney. Our attorneys pride themselves on avoiding the nastiness that often accompanies the bulldog mentality; they can be aggressive while staying respectful. More than anything, we try to find resolutions in every situation without waiving anything for our clients. We will always fight to get you the best situation.
When some begin the divorce process, they believe they need a bulldog attorney to walk away with all of their non-negotiables. They want someone who enters every legal conversation with an aggressive demeanor. However, these tactics do not always lead to the most fruitful outcome, as they can lead to war between the two parties. In our opinion, the goal should always be resolution instead of war unless war is the only option presented to us by the opposing counsel.
One of the major reasons we try to avoid entering any situation with a bulldog mentality is that it often
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