Chooseday 1st September - Choose Your Mindset đź§
- GoodCompany Team
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Good Morning,
What if your inner voice is part of your health?
We spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a body healthier.
Move more. Eat well. Get enough sleep. Drink more water.
But what about the way we speak to ourselves?
Because there’s another part of our health that we carry around all day, every day: our inner voice. And for many of us, it can be surprisingly unforgiving.
I should have done better.
Why did I do that?
I’m just not good at this.
I’ll never be able to do it.
We might call it motivation. We might call it “being realistic”.
But sometimes, it's a fixed mindset quietly taking over.
Psychologist Carol Dweck's research distinguishes between a fixed mindset — the belief that our abilities and qualities are largely set — and a growth mindset, where we see abilities as something that can develop through learning, effort and experience (Dweck, 2006).
Fixed: “I'm just not good at this.”
Growth: “I'm not good at this yet.”
Fixed: “I failed.”
Growth: “That didn't work. What can I learn?”
Fixed: “I should be better at this by now.”
Growth: “I'm still learning.”
A growth mindset doesn't mean pretending failure doesn't matter. It means failure becomes information rather than a verdict. And that distinction can change the conversation you're having with yourself.
Your brain knows the difference đź§
Neuroscience suggests that how we respond to our mistakes matters. An fMRI study found that self-criticism activated areas linked to error processing, while self-reassurance engaged regions associated with compassion and empathy (Longe et al., 2010). A 2021 study also found that self-reassurance reduced neural and emotional responses to negative events compared with self-criticism (Kim et al., 2021).
That’s where growth mindset comes in. It’s not about pretending everything is positive. It’s about leaving room to learn.
And this matters in Australia...
The latest National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that 4.3 million Australians aged 16–85 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months — around 22% of the population (ABS, 2023).
Looking after our minds deserves the same attention we give our bodies.
So, this Chooseday, try the “yet” test 🌱
Instead of “I can’t do this,” try “I can’t do this yet.”
Instead of “I’m not good at this,” try “What could I learn?”
Instead of “I should be better than this,” try “I’m still learning.”
A growth mindset doesn't ask you to be endlessly positive. It asks you to stay curious.
And self-compassion doesn't mean lowering your standards. A meta-analysis found that compassion-focused interventions were associated with reduced self-criticism and increased self-soothing (Wakelin et al., 2022).
You can expect more from yourself without making yourself the enemy.
This Chooseday, choose “yet.” 🌱
Your abilities aren't a finished product. Neither is your mindset.
Speaking of our brains… đź§
Our brains are extraordinary, and there is still so much we don't understand about them.
This Chooseday, you can help support research into one of the most challenging forms of cancer with a $5 donation towards genetic sequencing of a brain tumour.
Just $5 can contribute towards sequencing a patient's brain tumour. Genetic sequencing can help identify the genetic characteristics of a tumour and support efforts to get people the right treatments, faster.
Because looking after our brains isn't just about how we think.It's about understanding them, protecting them and investing in the science that could help save lives.
Choose your mindset.
Choose “yet”.
Choose to make a difference. đź’š
🧠Happy ChooseDay brainiacs,
The GoodCompany Team
Know someone who will benefit from a Chooseday mindset?
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