When I was finishing school, I told myself I wasn’t smart enough for university. I cannot tell you where this belief stemmed from, but I have recently discovered that it’s a story my fixed mindset told me.
Patient “What made you decide to do massage?” Clare “ I liked sport, and when I gave my mum shoulder rubs, she said I was good at it. My school friend Jess told me she was looking at the course at the CIT open day, and I thought I might learn how to massage properly”. I think back to those shoulder rubs I gave my mother, and I cringe, I can’t see how it made her feel better, but for whatever reason, it did.
I wouldn’t change what I studied after school because it has gifted me the most fulfilling job for 15 years.
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In December 2021, I read Mindset The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck. Now it’s not super fresh in my mind, but she talks about the need to believe you can do something and you will apply yourself and get to where you want to be. Carol also talks about how the way we speak to our children (and others for that matter) can determine if their dominant mindset is fixed or growth. A growth mindset is assuming you are bad at something but trying it anyway because maybe you might be good at it, but if you aren’t, then you can learn from it, learn to be good at it, or learn that you enjoy it despite not being good at it. A fixed mindset is.. well you guess it not trying it because you might be bad at it or fail.
I finished my massage qualifications in 2009 and have continued learning via professional development but have not enrolled in further tertiary study until now, mainly because I didn’t know what I wanted to study. In 2021 after encouragement from a friend, I enrolled in a post-graduate certificate in Strength and Conditioning. I’ll save the finer details for another post about failure, but this experience ALMOST confirmed my story of “you aren’t smart enough for uni”.
In February 2022, I stumbled across an undergraduate certificate in Community Support with UTAS that was being advertised as “free” (Commonwealth Supported). I read the units and thought they sounded like an excellent fit for massage, so I enrolled, and my learning experience has been enjoyable. By the end of the 1st semester, I decided that I may have what it takes to complete a Masters in Rehabilitation Counselling. To strengthen my application and knowledge, I enrolled in a graduate certificate in health science with UON. I enrolled in one unit on top of the last 2 units with UTAS. I asked myself, am I taking on too much? My answer: there is only one way to find out. In my quest for not falling behind, I’ve so far been able to keep on top of uni content, handing every assessment in early AND not negatively impacting my small business. (The ups and downs of winter viruses may have helped, as this is the most unpredictable and inconsistent winter of appointment bookings I have had in YEARS) Not only were my assignments early, but I discovered that I could get High Distinctions and Distinctions across both universities.
Reading Carol’s book changed my perspective from ruling out possibilities to what else can I do to help me grow. I have also learnt the power of the word YET. I can’t do this… YET, I’m not ready… YET, I’m not strong… YET. Try it yourself and notice how different it makes you feel.
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Anyone can achieve more than they think they can, and recently watched one of Dweck’s talks at work! The power of “not yet”. Something I now use with my kids! https://youtu.be/hiiEeMN7vbQ