Beliefs reshape reality so question your mind’s hard wiring

In the 1970s, psychologists found that placing black dots far apart on a sheet of paper left people believing the page was larger than if the dots were close together, even though both pages were the same size. This tendency illustrates how our minds rely on mental shortcuts—called heuristics—to make sense of the world.

Decades later, Harvard psychologist Carol Dweck popularized the idea of fixed versus growth mindsets. A fixed mindset views abilities as static traits—“I’m just not a creative person”—while a growth mindset sees them as malleable: “I’ll get better with practice.”

Neuroimaging reveals that growth mindsets activate brain regions associated with top-down learning and plasticity, encouraging exploration and resilience. Conversely, fixed mindsets restrict those pathways and fuel avoidance.

By intentionally priming your brain with growth reminders and evidence against your own limiting beliefs, you reshape your mental shortcuts. A mind open to change becomes its own greatest ally in learning and performance.

Catch yourself thinking “I can’t.” Pause and jot down one past success that contradicts it. Whisper a growth mantra like “Abilities grow with effort” as you move into the next task. Watch how that tiny mindset shift opens new doors.