It’s all about the attitude is my family mantra. My mom always taught us that life is what we make of situations, she would say that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. For me, that mindset is the difference between deciding at the beginning of the day that if something is going to go a certain way, I am going to let that define the day and have a bad day or just go with it and make the rest of the day a good day. I mean, let’s face it, not everything goes as planned.
I’ve learned to see opportunities where others see problems.
Following up on my post “My strengths and how I work on my weaknesses“, I came across the concepts of a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and I realized that the growth mindset is perfectly in line with what my mother taught us growing up.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
The difference between fixed and growth mindset
A fixed mindset is when you believe that your skills, intelligence, and abilities are set in stone. Challenges feel like threats, mistakes define you, and feedback can feel like criticism. A growth mindset, on the other hand, is all about believing in the potential to grow, learn, and improve. Challenges become opportunities, setbacks are lessons, and feedback is a chance to get better.
For me, a growth mindset is about trusting the process and embracing the messiness of life.
How the right mindset made all the difference: my stories
Looking back, I can see how a growth mindset shaped some moments in my life. Each experience taught me something new, and I often wonder how things might have turned out if I’d approached them differently. If I’d stayed in a fixed mindset instead of leaning into growth. Here are some stories from my personal journey and how embracing growth turned challenges into opportunities.
A leap across continents
Coming to Germany to do my Bachelor’s wasn’t part of the original plan. If life had gone as expected, I would have stayed in Venezuela for my bachelor’s degree and then gone on to do a master’s in Germany. And the plan was to do it in English, definitely not in German. But as the political situation back home got worse, I had to make a decision.
I decided to take the step. I packed my bags, moved to Germany on my own and, with a little knowledge of German (it was limited to small talk), started a bachelor’s degree in engineering (in German). I knew it would be hard to adjust to my new life, master a technical subject and study in a foreign language, but at the same time I was so excited for what was to come. I saw an opportunity to grow. I really thought, ‘Why not?
Every challenge, from my first physics and mechanics class in German to navigating life as an international student, felt like a mountain to climb. But with each small victory, I grew stronger. If I’d had a fixed mindset, I might have focused on the fear of failure or how unprepared I felt. Instead, I embraced the discomfort and learned to take pride in each step forward.
The decision to walk away
As i wrote in “I quit my job and it felt good“, when I quit my last job, I didn’t have a clear plan for what was next. I just knew that what I was doing wasn’t fulfilling me anymore. Staying would have been the easier choice, but deep down, I knew I needed something more aligned with my goals and happiness.
So I embraced uncertainty. I stepped out of my comfort zone, left the job behind, and started looking for opportunities that resonated with me.
Leaving without a safety net taught me to trust myself and my ability to adapt. A fixed mindset might have kept me stuck, afraid of change and failure. But by focusing on the possibilities instead of the risks, I found the courage to make a change that ultimately led me to a better place.
Owning my mistakes
Once at work, I ran some experiments that didn’t go as planned. When I discussed the results with my supervisor, he pointed out a mistake I’d made, he said it in a polite and constructive way – which I think can make all the difference when giving constructive criticism. Of course, I was disappointed in myself, and it was hard to take, since it was no small mistake, but I had two choices: get defensive and blame everyone but myself, or take responsibility.
I chose to own it. I thanked him for his input and told him the new experimental plan to rerun the tests. I even remember saying that I’d make new samples if needed. A few months later, he gave me some feedback on my work, and he told me that that time I did not just fix the mistake, but I showed perseverance and willingness to learn. I think he was kind of surprised that I owned my mistake and moved on with a solution.
Mistakes aren’t the end of the world; they’re opportunities to grow. A fixed mindset might have made me defensive or discouraged, but by accepting feedback and focusing on improvement, I turned the situation into a positive one.
When plans change
Before COVID-19, I was planning a week-long event for the university. It was going to be in person, with professors traveling from all over the world. Everything was planned, from the workshops to the logistics. Then the pandemic hit and everything changed.
Instead of canceling, I decided to adapt. My team and I transformed the event into a virtual format, redesigning the activities for an online platform. We even used the virtual setup to invite speakers from other countries who couldn’t attend in person. At the end of the week, the event was a success, despite the unexpected challenges.
This experience showed me that change doesn’t have to ruin your plans. With a fixed mindset, I might have given up and canceled the entire event. Instead, I saw the situation as an opportunity to innovate, and the result exceeded our expectations.
Asking for feedback
During my master’s program, I designed an injection molding tool for a class, and to be honest, I did not have much experience designing such complex pieces. I worked hard on it. When I got my grade, I was proud. But instead of moving on, I wanted to learn more. I had put so many hours into this project, and I actually enjoyed designing it.
I contacted my professor, not to dispute my grade, but to ask for feedback. I wanted to know where I could improve. He seemed surprised, in a good way, and we had a great conversation about areas for growth.
Feedback is one of the most powerful tools for growth, but in many cases you have to ask for it. A fixed mindset might have told me, “You did good, leave it at that. But by asking for constructive criticism, I gained insights that helped me grow, even in areas I don’t work with directly.
Why Mindset Matters
These stories aren’t just about big decisions or extraordinary moments—they’re about the everyday choices that shape who we are.
A growth mindset has helped me see challenges as opportunities, failures as lessons, and feedback as a chance to do better.
It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Because in the end, It’s all about the attitude.
Choose growth every day,
Rebe