Parent: A Fixed Mindset assumes you are what you are. A Growth Mindset assumes you can change if you put in the effort?
Dr. B: That’s a pretty good summary.
Parent: This Growth Mindset thing got me thinking.
Dr. B: Oh, oh. That’s never good.
Parent: This is supposed to be a serious site.
Dr. B: What have you been thinking?
Parent: Well, I always assumed I was no good at music or drawing or skiing or playing ping pong or …
Dr. B: Wow! Too much thinking, I think. Slow down. Let’s take one at a time.
Parent: Ok. How about drawing?
Dr. B: What about it?
Parent: Well, I assume some people are just naturally gifted artistically, but most of us aren’t.
Dr. B: You aren’t born in one category or another: Can draw or can’t draw.
Parent: But my cousin can draw anything she’s seen, perfectly, from memory.
Dr. B: Yep, she does sound gifted. And probably draws all the time.
Parent: Yep.
Dr. B: But your question was, “Can you learn to draw?”
Parent: Not like her.
Dr. B: So what. Can you learn to draw better than you can now?
Parent: Sure. Probably, with enough instruction and practice.
Dr. B: Do you believe that or are you just giving me the answer I want to hear?
Parent: Busted!
Dr. B: Actually, it’s true. Drawing is a skill. If you start with the basics, you can improve quite rapidly.
Parent: Even at my age?
Dr. B: Yep. Even at your age, old man.
