The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.

The wrong kind of praise creates self-defeating behavior. The right kind motivates students to learn.

...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.

Wow, that's a really good score. You must have worked really hard.

This point is . . . crucial,” writes Dweck. “In the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail — or if you’re not the best — it’s all been wasted. The growth mindset allows people to value what they’re doing regardless of the outcome.

Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.

When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world. In one world (the world of fixed traits) success is about proving you’re smart or talented. Validating yourself. In the other (the world of changing qualities) it’s about stretching yourself to learn something new. Developing yourself.