How to Build Growth Mindset with Faith

By John Thurman

NOTE: This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Enduring Faith: How to Stand Strong in the Storms of Life (working title)

Build a Growth Mindset by Understanding Five Mind Basics

Did you know that what you think can shape how your life turns out? It’s true! In today’s post, I’ll share some interesting ideas about how to unlock your brain: five mind basics. This article is the first short series on developing a growth mindset. These practices can strengthen your Christian faith and foster resilience. When I refer to ‘faith,’ I mean a deep trust in God, confidence in His purpose for your life, and a hopeful expectation for positive outcomes through His guidance.

Embarking to unlock your mind is a significant step toward spiritual growth, resilience, and a growth mindset. Our brain is not just an organ; it’s a complex system that governs our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Understanding how your mind operates can pave the way for personal growth and enhance your spiritual life, inspiring you to reach new heights.

Understanding the Mind

Think of your brain like a nervous gardener, always worried about weeds growing in your flowerbed of thoughts. Unfortunately, it often focuses on the weeds—or the negative thoughts—instead of the positive ones. This habit is called negativity bias and acts like an alarm, always looking for problems. But like in a garden, you can grow a more positive mindset. Here’s how:

1. The Brain’s Natural Negativity

Our brains are designed to pay more attention to negative experiences. This truth might be because it helps us survive. Dr. Rick Hanson, a brain expert, says our minds are like Velcro for bad experiences and Teflon for good ones. This response means we often focus more on what’s harmful than good. Understanding this can help us control our thoughts and focus on the positive.

2. Always on the Lookout for Danger

Our brains are good at spotting danger, which helps keep us safe. But this can also make us anxious about things that aren’t threats. Learning how our brains work can help us manage this anxiety better.

3. The Habit of Worrying

Everyone worries—think of it like a worried parent. Our brains can amplify stress, especially when we hear a lot of negative news. Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, we can train our minds to focus on the positive and have faith.

4. Jumping to Conclusions

Our minds don’t like uncertainty, so they often fill in gaps with guesses based on past experiences. For example, if you hear just part of a conversation, your brain might make assumptions without knowing the whole story. Knowing this can help you stop and seek understanding before jumping to conclusions.

5. The Need for Predictability

In tough times, we might feel overwhelmed and confused. By practicing handling this, we can balance our instincts with faith, preparing us to face life’s challenges more effectively.

Summary

By learning how our brains work, we can focus more on the positive and build our faith. We’ll explore these ideas in the next few weeks and find practical ways to nurture a positive mindset. Together, we can cultivate our thoughts and adopt a more hopeful outlook. Stay with us!

By noticing these ways of thinking, you can change your mindset from worry to faith and hope. You can grow a mindset that builds your faith with practice and intention, knowing you’re never alone. This realization is the first step toward self-discovery and growth.

Bible Study

Key Verse: Romans 12:2 (NLT)

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good, pleasing, and perfect.”

Questions:

1. Reflection: What does it mean to “let God transform you by changing how you think”? Can you identify specific thoughts or patterns that may need transformation?

2. Review: In Philippians 4:8 (NLT), Paul encourages us to concentrate on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. How might focusing on these qualities influence your mental well-being and decision-making?

3. Application: Reflect on Ephesians 4:23 (NLT), which states, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” What practical steps can you take to invite the Holy Spirit into your thought life and revitalize your mind?

4. Prayer: Spend a moment in prayer. Ask the Lord to reveal specific patterns that need to change and to lead you into Scriptures that will help.