Mindset: the established set of attitudes held by someone (MacBook
Dictionary)
Mindset keeps popping up in my life lately. I blame mindset
for everything: when I don’t agree with someone’s theoretical stance, it is
their “mindset” that I point to; when I talk about how we can encourage good
learning habits in students, I suggest that we have to develop their mindset.
One place where I don’t seem to be using the word enough,
however, is with my writing. And it is here where mindset insidiously
influences what I do. When I teach, I have no choice but to confront my set of
attitudes—teaching happens at a required time, students respond to what happens
in class, and external forces demand certain accountings of my practice. I
continue to question and be aware. But, except for external deadlines or my
annual report, I do not have to face my attitudes about writing.
Do I want to write? Of course I do. Do I think writing is
important for my sense of self? Indeed I do. These are not the attitudes I am
worried about. I worry more about my attitudes toward getting to that
writing—a mindset that suggests I need time to really delve into a piece, that
reminds me that I have so many other urgent issues demanding my attention, and that
I don’t know what I will say so I should wait until I do. I am sure if you
write (or are required to write), you will recognize these attitudes.
What troubles me about this mindset is how easily I let it
happen and how easily I let it guide what gets written (or doesn’t). I have to
work to change this mindset—and I do think it takes work. Just consider the two
parts: mind/set. That sounds pretty stubborn and suggests effort is needed for
change to happen.
My challenge, then, for the New Year is to listen to my set
mind and interrupt its chatter. When I realize that I am not accomplishing my
writing, I can ask why and then create conditions where it can occur.
I can account for my practice and stay aware. It's time to move from mindset
to mindshift.
