Week 8: Growth Mindset

Looking back at my previous post on Growth Mindset, I told myself that I'd learn more and that I wanted to as the semester progressed.  I haven't kept to my word.  After realizing the workload that I've encountered and dealt with, it seemed difficult to learn more about it.  I'm grateful that this Review Week is giving me the opportunity to dig a tad deeper into the topic, since I haven't been lately.  

I reviewed the different dimensions of growth chart and it reminded me a lot of what I learned in my sessions.  I discussed in my previous post that I was deemed with 'fear of failure.'  Though I have this issue, that doesn't mean that I can't grow out of it.  And all of what I've marked off for myself, usually related to my past experiences and even some now.  The reason why I chose this image below is also the reason why I have difficulties with progressing out of the fixed-mindset as I am comfortable where I am.

(Comfort Zone.  Link.)

The few dimensions that seem to have grown within me are: finding motivation within myself, attempting to set my own goals, being open to any/all feedback, and willing to learn from my mistakes.  These are very important, granted that they are all important, but they speak to me.  I've opened up to each of these little by little and it has worked.  Though I still struggle in finding motivation and lack setting goals, I am still trying to get through them.  Each of the other aspects are also ones that I will slowly be improving on as the year goes on.  The most that I am trying to push through this semester in all of my courses and with handling work is staying completely positive.

(Positivity Jar.  Flickr.)

Positivity can be very difficult to uphold and maintain, but just thinking and believing in yourself can get you far.  So far it has helped me stress just a tad less and it is helping me get through my assignments without thinking of the end result as failure, but that the process is worth it in the end.  Whether I receive a good grade or not, I will take it in terms of learning from my mistake and receive the feedback that I need.  This course is great in that aspect.  I am able to receive the right kind of feedback and also provide myself with the chance of redoing an assignment to better improve on my work.  The overall task and process of the assignment is the goal rather than the end result as a whole.

This class, like the rest, has definitely given me the challenge of setting my own schedule/priorities and goals with all of my homework and with managing my social/work life as well.  Not only that but they also provide me with the ability to learn that I can try new things, take risks, practice, ask plenty questions and improve my confidence through all of those without feeling as if I will fail at the task in the end.  There is still a lot of room for improvement overall and I am willing to take on these challenges one at a time, until I can reach my full potential.

(Just believe.  Flickr.)

Week 8 Reflections: Reading Notes

This class has opened plenty of doors for me in the reading department, since I don't get to read very much outside of school and work.  So far I've enjoyed a lot of the readings that I've chosen over the course.  I would have loved to find more options to choose from, though I just haven't found quite the right schedule to get into the zone.  Not the right rhythm either.  I basically just work with my surroundings.  Wherever I have to be or can find a decent place to work, like Starbucks or Barnes & Nobles, I do my readings and notes in due time.

(Reading and Notes.  Pexels.)

If I had to choose a specific reading that I enjoyed most, it would have to be between the last reading of Fox-Fire, The Man in the Moon, and The Tree of Knowledge.  I can't quite pick a specific reading that I enjoyed above all.  These have their perks and differences of why I like them the most.

Recently reading Fox-Fire, I didn't quite get to do a storytelling on that story combined with The Monkey King, just yet but I am planning to.  It's just something I can't pass up.  I'm hoping I can transform it greatly, because the way the story was told about the Elixir of Life just gets me thinking.  It gets me thinking in ways of how people can be so greedy in power and it happens in real life, that's the unfortunate reality.  I didn't realize that the Chinese had a fairy-tale about the fire fox as well, much like the Kitsune.  I want to incorporate that type of story into my own.  I've only heard the brief retelling of it in a T.V. series called, Teen Wolf.

The Man in the Moon is a lot of karma in one and not being appreciative of the little things that life has offered us.  It also conveys not appreciating the abilities that we have, just because of one thing we don't like about our lives.  The Tree of Knowledge in turn provides a sense of enlightenment.  As the story is of Siddhartha becoming Buddha.  We all want to understand and know what it is like to have reached that point.  Hopefully we do, but we know that not all of us can.  That's the interesting thing about this spiritual story, because there are so many chances that it offers us in reincarnation.  At some point we will be able to reach our own sense of enlightenment, whatever that may be.

(Reading like a Writer.  Pixabay.)

Aside from these readings, I definitely feel like I am reading like a writer and taking notes like one, because these notes do help me in my writing process.  Whether I stick to it or not, that's the beauty I find in these notes, they help me transition into something else if that's what seems better for me.  I don't always have to stick to my notes, they just help enhance my creativity.

Looking into the reading options for the next few weeks to come, there are plenty intriguing ones that I can't wait to dig into.  Some readings I've noticed from the Native American readings are the Alaskan tales about the Ravens and the Native American Hero tales.  The British and Celtic unit have many readings that have caught my eye, such as Alice in Wonderland, Beowulf, Robin Hood, King Arthur, and more of Aesop's Fables.  This unit will be difficult in choosing which story I will want to write about next.  The last unit of the European stories also peaks my interests the most of all as it has the Brother's Grimm tales and many tales from other countries.  These tales have been rewritten in modern-day, completely different compared to these originals.  It's exciting the read the originals and have our own take on it.