One of the most important qualities to have in order to learn something new is a growth mindset. If you have a growth mindset, you believe that hard work is important and that you can do anything you put your mind to. Thomas Edison personified a growth mindset when he set out to create the light bulb. After failing over and over again, he never gave up and continued to try until he finally succeeded. He illustrated his positive attitude when he stated, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset, in which you put limits on yourself and believe that you cannot reach your goal. One of the most common examples of a fixed mindset can be seen when a child says, “I don’t like math, I’m not good at it.” This implies that math is something that you are inherently good or bad at, and that hard work won’t change that.

In the same way, it is our hope that we will be able to foster a growth mindset within our swimmers. Many students may come into their lessons with the idea that they are not good swimmers or that they will never be able to learn to swim. When this is the case, it is essential for them to develop confidence and see that their hard work pays off. Whether they are learning to swim for the first time or trying to refine their strokes, failure is inevitable but not permanent. The more practice, hard work, and confidence that a student has, the closer they will get to their goals.

Remember the importance of a growth mindset, and the next time you hear someone say “I’m not good at swimming” or “I’ll never be able to dive,” be sure to encourage that they persevere and use the obstacles as an opportunity to work hard and gain confidence.