43 Chapter 2 Mindset Matters Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 43 Chapter 2 Mi ndset Matters 3. Imagine the connection between bravery and vulnerability and how that may appear in your college experience. When faced with an opportunity to be truly vulnerable, what about your previous experiences would you want to keep? What behaviors do you want to quit so as to be open to vulnerability? What would you like to start in order to make room for vulnerability and bravery? Chapter 2 Assignment Goals of the Assignment To become aware of how the stories we tell ourselves throughout our day shape our day. To get into the habit of paying attention to how you are talking to your- self at key moments. To start to unknot or open up some of the stories that get in the way of doing things. Steps of the Assignment 1. Choose one of the facets (fixed vs. growth mindset a single story the looking-glass self vulnerability) that resonates with you. Perhaps this is one that when you read the chapter you thought, “Yeah, I can see that.” 2. Create some sort of string around your finger—something you will run into throughout the next three days that will prompt you to notice your current mindset. Some options that work for students are putting a sticky note on their laptop keyboard or a rubber band around their phone. This is your “attention device.” 3. Throughout the next three days, when you notice your “attention device,” ask yourself, “What is my mindset about this thing I’m currently doing?” or “Is there a single story that is relevant to this moment that I should challenge?” or “How does my idea of what I think others think about me impact me right now?” or “Is part of my feeling right now a resistance to being vulnerable?” 4. As you notice things, jot them down. Your journal is a great place to do this! 5. At the end of the three days, answer the question: “How did being aware of this facet of mindset impact my mindset?” What You Need to Hand In 1. The original list of moments (aim for 20 across the three days), along with a sentence explaining what you were doing and what you found yourself thinking about it. 2. A two-paragraph writeup. Paragraph 1 should identify what you are telling yourself and how it impacts the moment. Paragraph 2 should answer the question: “How did being aware of this facet of my mindset impact my mindset?” Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.