San Juan Capistrano, California / Syndication Cloud / July 3, 2025 / Mission Connection
“Mind over matter” may be an age-old idiom, but it’s the key to overcoming many of life’s challenges—of course, that’s provided you welcome them. Now, some people see these challenges as a means to improve themselves, while others may shy away because the thought of failure is too frightening. Which one are you? A mindset test may help you determine that for yourself—something that mental health professionals agree is crucial for unlocking your true potential.
The Growth Mindset Scale
Dr. Carol Dweck, Ph.D., originally developed the Growth Mindset Scale to research how an individual’s mindset influences their academic performance. Specifically, this scale was created to determine whether individuals had different beliefs on whether they could change their intelligence. Depending on their results, respondents are classified either as an individual with a “growth” mindset or a “fixed” mindset.
As per Dr. Dweck’s research, individuals with a growth mindset believe that they are capable of improving their intelligence with effort, while those with a fixed mindset believe that they are born with a limited amount of intelligence that cannot be altered. So, why is this actually important? Well, many studies have found that students oriented towards growth tend to perform better in school compared to those with a fixed perspective.
Naturally, adults may find a test like this extremely helpful as well. That’s why mental health professionals encourage you to use these tools; they’ll let you gain insight into how you approach challenges.
The Mindset Test
Although the original Growth Mindset Scale was primarily used to identify limiting beliefs on intelligence in teenagers and college students, the assessment has been modified many times to suit adults.
Some versions take a more general approach to mindset, questioning respondents about their overall abilities rather than just their intelligence. There are other similar quizzes out there, all of which you can use to determine your mindset. Even if you think you know yourself, it never hurts to have a tangible idea to use as a starting point on your journey of personal growth.
When Therapy is Needed
While mindset tests cannot reliably diagnose underlying mental health conditions, experts say that therapy can still be effective at altering negative thought patterns or amplifying growth-oriented perspectives. If you think that might be helpful for you, you have plenty of options.
To start with, look for a licensed mental health provider that offers comprehensive outpatient mental health services to adults. Go for one that offers integrative, whole-person treatments—these will help you address pretty much all of your issues at their roots.
If accessibility is important to you, many mental health centers offer online therapy through telehealth. These give you all the care of an in-person appointment, but with additional flexibility and less travel time.
Remember, mindsets can always change, and the right strategies can help you on your journey to improving yourself. Mind over matter, right?
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