July 19, 2025 • 22 mins
That little word "yet" might be the most powerful tool in your mental toolkit. When you catch yourself saying "I can't do this," adding "yet" transforms limitation into possibility—opening the door to growth where you once saw only roadblocks.
In this reflective conversation, we explore the science and practical application of developing a growth mindset based on Dr. Carol Dweck's groundbreaking research. Rather than viewing abilities as fixed traits written in permanent marker ("I'll never be a morning person," "I can't do math"), we discover how adopting the belief that we can develop through effort, learning, and persistence literally rewires the neural pathways in our brains.
We share personal stories of how this mindset shift made all the difference in our own journeys—from recovering from medical challenges to showing up consistently for difficult spin classes when we're dead last.
The magic happens when we embrace challenges as opportunities to stretch ourselves and view mistakes not as failures but as valuable data points guiding our next steps.
The beauty of a growth mindset lies in its universal application. Whether you're trying to learn a new skill, heal a relationship, or navigate life's inevitable setbacks, reframing your thoughts from frustration to curiosity creates space for genuine progress.
We explore practical strategies for cultivating this perspective: celebrating small wins regularly, surrounding yourself with growth-oriented people, and setting healthy boundaries that create room for personal development.
Ready to transform how you approach challenges? Join us to discover why progress—even in slow motion—is still progress, and how embracing the journey rather than fixating solely on destinations leads to deeper fulfillment and resilience in every area of life.
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👉 Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (paid link)
👉Atomic Habits by James Clear (paid link)
👉Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck (paid link)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sherry (00:00):
Welcome back to this.
Is it the podcast by ThrivingYinzers where we're talking
about life, its ups, its downsand how to keep moving forward
through it all?
Because, well, this is it,before we get into it, a
reminder that we're just twoYinzer ladies here shooting the
shit, talking about life.
We're not licensed therapistsor counselors or medical
professionals.
So if you are going throughsomething and need support, we
(00:20):
really encourage you to reachout to someone qualified who can
help you through it.
There's no shame.
All right, let's get into it.
Jodi (00:26):
Today we're talking about something that can seriously
change the game when it comes tohandling the hard stuff and
making progress in life, havinga growth mindset.
Sherry (00:34):
You've probably heard this term before and actually we
know you've heard this termbefore if you've been listening
to our podcast.
There's plenty that has beensaid about how a growth mindset
can be the difference in whatmoves you forward or holds you
back.
So there's good reason for it,to the credit of the work of
Stanford psychologist Dr CarolDweck.
Her research showed how a shiftin your mindset literally
(00:55):
prepares you to learn and growforward by rewiring the thought
pathways in your brain.
A growth mindset is the beliefthat your abilities and talents
can develop with effort, withlearning, with persistence, and
by having this framework ofthought you're really priming
the pathways in your brain toachieve something more.
And, as we were doing the lastepisode with Dr Anthony Kovatch,
(01:18):
this idea really tied in If youknow Dr Kovatch or if you've
listened to the episode.
He is a very inspiring person,very special man, and he's
accomplished so much in his life.
He's now training for atriathlon at 74 years old.
That doesn't happen with afixed mindset , no way.
That's someone who believes inprogress, even when it's hard,
(01:40):
and it shows that mindset isn'tjust something that you read
about.
It really is something thatquite literally shapes your
recovery, your resilience andeven your reality.
Jodi (01:52):
Right.
So, a growth mindset is theopposite of that fixed mindset
where we believe our traits areset in stone, like I can't do
math, I'll never be a morningperson, I can't work out.
Whatever it is.
You're telling yourself thatnarrative and it's as if we've
decided our abilities arewritten in permanent marker,
completely unchangeable.
But most things can improvewith effort and the right
(02:15):
approach.
Maybe you have struggled withmath in the past, but it doesn't
mean that you can't figure itout and get better.
Maybe mornings aren't your thing, but have you really given it a
shot?
Or have you just said I'm not amorning person?
Let that be your excuse and hitthe snooze button over and over
again before you even let yourfeet hit the floor.
(02:35):
A growth mindset flips thatscript.
Instead of saying I can't dothis, it becomes I can't do this
yet.
Instead of I'll never be amorning person.
It's mornings are tough, butmaybe if I get out of bed a
little bit earlier and find aroutine that works, I can make
them better.
It's realizing change ispossible, one small step at a
(02:56):
time.
I heard similar phrases a lotin the classroom, especially as
a math teacher.
"I'm just not good at math, Iwould hear.
One of the most important partsof my job at that time was to
make sure that my studentsstarted to see themselves as
capable of improving and capableof learning more about math, no
matter where their startingpoint.
(03:17):
And the way to do that wasactually teaching them about the
science behind the idea ofgrowth versus a fixed mindset.
And once they had thatunderstanding, they were so much
more open to believing in whatwas possible for themselves, and
it really was the key to unlockthe change in the direction
where they thought they wereheaded as far as their math
(03:39):
education went.
And that little word "yet" isthe most important word that
we're going to say today becausethat's where the magic happens.
A little word that packs a bigpunch.
Sherry (03:51):
It's not I can't do this .
It's I can't do this, YET.
The shift in perspective aboutlearning anything is extremely
empowering to, you know,students in a math classroom,
but it also applies to adults ofany age, and it can be applied
to, you know, students in a mathclassroom, but it also applies
to adults of any age, and it canbe applied to you know the
difficult things that we gothrough in life, or just wanting
(04:12):
to learn something new.
It was those times in theclassroom that came back to me
in my life during my ownpersonal and medical challenges.
At my lowest point, I had toremind myself that I wasn't
going to be stuck forever.
I just wasn't okay yet, and itwas the reframing of my thoughts
and remembering all thosethings that I would tell my
students about how importantmindset is that ended up being
(04:36):
exactly what I needed to starttaking tiny steps toward a new
life at that time.
And, I think about what DrKovatch shared in his own story,
how he used unfortunate familyhistory of a devastating illness
that inflicted his mother andhe asked how do I build from
(04:56):
this?
Jodi (04:57):
I was thinking about how, even though he's coming in last,
he kept going that to me is aperfect example of growth
mindset.
Sherry (05:04):
Yeah, I would agree with that.
He had the whole entourage ofthe sweep behind him and he
could have hopped in
Jodi (05:10):
.Absolutely I would have.
Sherry (05:12):
He was still trying to pass somebody at the very end.
That's an example of using agrowth mindset.
It was a reminder that thattype of mindset is functional
and powerful, and as I continueon that journey myself, I remind
myself that growth iscontinuous and even though I'm
(05:32):
not where I want to be yet, I'mexactly where I need to be now,
and that's actually a mantrathat I use daily.
Jodi (05:40):
The best thing about a growth mindset is it does
actually take the pressure off.
You don't have to be perfect,you just have to be willing to
learn and improve and keepshowing up.
It's kind of like me with myspin classes that I started to
do again and gosh, I just I hateit and I love it and I go and
I'm last and it hurts and it'shard, but I have decided that
(06:02):
it's good for me and I just keepgoing.
I can't keep up with the class.
I can't follow the instructor.
But, I'll be there every Mondayevening.
I'm going to keep going and Ican tell, even after just being
back four times, I feel a littlestronger every time I come out.
Even though my stats aren'treally getting better, I still
(06:23):
feel stronger and I feel betterfor the fact that I'm doing it.
Sherry (06:26):
And you are.
You're getting a littlestronger each time, and that was
because you made the decisionto start.
You have to start.
Jodi (06:32):
Exactly, and I took that pressure off myself.
I'm not trying to be the best,I'm not trying to come in number
one.
I'm just trying to show up formyself, really.
And to me, that's me trying toexercise having a growth mindset
.
Sherry (06:46):
Right, and that's trying to put the idea of a growth
mindset in your forethought sothat when you do hit a pothole
in life, instead of saying, "I'mnot cut out for this, this
really sucks, my life is shitty,or one of another umpteen
negative bullshit stories wetell ourselves, we then can
begin to ask once the dustsettles, what can I learn from
(07:06):
this and what can I do right nowto make things even just the
tiniest bit better?
And eventually that littleshift really is what makes all
the difference, and I want tospeak to that because that kind
of mindset is actually at theheart of the self-mastery
approach we're going to talkabout next week with Matt Plutko
from Revelations Counseling andWellness.
(07:28):
So, if you're wondering what itlooks like to apply this type
of mindset, not just in theory,but how you actually live, heal
and grow, definitely stay tunedfor that conversation.
Jodi (07:38):
I'm looking forward to that myself.
Sherry (07:59):
Me too
Jodi (08:00):
The reason I'm looking forward to that interview is
that is something that I'm stilllearning.
Learning to live with a growthmindset is something that I am
really focusing in on this yearfor 2025.
I'm slowly progressing, but itdoesn't come easy but it is
possible.
I've always wanted to write.
I want to be a writer.
And the only thing that I wasnever doing was writing.
And, like I would sit there andgo, oh, I could never do it, I
could never do it.
Well, I wasn't doing it at all,and so I started doing just a
little bit here and there and Istarted forcing myself to
(08:20):
journal and, honestly, I stilldon't do it every single night
like I told myself I would.
But I do make sure that Icontinuously, at least three
times a week, I sit down andwrite something.
I try to, at least once a month, post something that I've
written somewhere online and I'mtelling myself I'm a writer.
(08:41):
I actually have a few peoplereading.
I've made 44 cents writingstories, so I can call myself a
writer now.
But again, that's how I'mtrying to shift my mindset.
Sherry (08:52):
Just like getting on the bike at spin class, though.
You made the decision to startand now you're building from
there.
Jodi (08:58):
That's what a growth mindset is all about and we talk
about it all the time.
You have to start, to start, tostart, yeah, and it's not easy,
it really isn't easy, but again, I love that using the "yet
word, that is such a key shift.
Sherry (09:16):
It really is because now you're open to possibilities
rather than closing yourself offbecause it's something that's
out of your comfort zone or thatyou picture other people doing,
but why not me?
It's not that you can't, it'sI'm not doing it yet.
Jodi (09:31):
Absolutely, and people say it all the time I'm not there
yet.
Maybe you're trying to get overa hurt, or you're trying to
repair a relationship and you'renot there yet, but it doesn't
mean you're not going to getthere.
Sherry (09:42):
Yep, and sometimes it's tough to reframe your thoughts
that way.
But instead of getting down onyourself or someone else or
angry or seeing things ascriticism, when you start seeing
it as an opportunity to learn,an opportunity to grow, an
opportunity to be better, likewe'll hear from Matt Plutko next
(10:03):
time, part of self-mastery isbeing honest with yourself and
others and choosing to respondwith intention instead of
reactivity.
And that can be yourinteractions with others and
also with yourself, becausesometimes the biggest quarrels,
disagreements, fights, theself-loathing kind of really
comes through in a fixed mindset.
Jodi (10:24):
And when you can make that shift to the growth mindset,
then you can be a little kinderto yourself as well, maybe
you're struggling with arelationship and you're trying
to repair it and hope to say I'mjust not there yet Doesn't mean
you're not going to get there,doesn't mean you're not going to
be better.
Grow together.
Sherry (10:41):
Instead of saying this person is a real freaking jag
off and will never change, youcan start asking how do we grow
through this together?
And that shifts the focus fromfrustration and shutting each
other out to what are thepossibilities, because you're
trying to seek perspective andopen up the channels of
communication.
And that means really listeningto gain understanding and not
(11:05):
planning your next cutthroatcomment, because no one's
winning in that scenario.
Jodi (11:10):
And relationships require growth.
If you're not learning andadapting together, things
deteriorate over time.
All relationships change.
Grow and develop over time.
If you want to grow in apositive way.
Sherry (11:25):
Growth mindset is key, it is true, and can be applied
to all types of relationships inlife family, friendships,
marriage, work.
It's just a really powerful wayto move forward with a
refreshed perspective.
Jodi (11:38):
It really is.
Really good leaders don'talways come at everything like
they're the smartest person inthe room.
Right, you have to be able tohear other people and be open to
other ideas, and that's a trueleader.
If you always think you're thesmartest kid in the room, you're
not learning anything.
Sherry (11:55):
So how do we actually build a growth mindset you?
Jodi (11:58):
Try to see it as a chance to stretch yourself instead of a
reason to quit.
Sherry (12:03):
Like learning a new skill at work, or even just
trying something new that's outof your comfort zone.
Instead of thinking I can't dothis, ask what can I learn from
this?
So that's embracing challenges.
Jodi (12:15):
Right, because mistakes aren't failures, they're lessons
.
It's how you learn, it's howyou grow.
We don't start out knowing howto talk.
We don't start out knowing howto walk.
These are all things that youbuild up to and really I feel
like, as I've gotten older,trying to learn new things
actually keeps you a littlesharp and it makes you feel
(12:35):
better in general.
Sherry (12:37):
Yep, so I think the two biggest take aways; If I were to
sum up growth mindset in anutshell, it's embracing
challenges and learning fromyour mistakes.
And then, as we said earlier,instead of beating yourself up,
you ask what can this teach me?
Honestly, in my life, some ofmy biggest wins came from my
mistakes and what I learned frommaking them, and it's all about
(12:58):
how you use them.
Every mistake is just data.
It's showing you what works,what doesn't and what needs
tweaking.
Jodi (13:06):
If you're never messing up , you're probably not pushing
yourself hard enough.
Think about how many times didyou fall before you learned to
walk.
It's the old yogi saying no mud, no lotus.
Sherry (13:16):
Yeah, no flowers without the rain, that's right.
That's where the learninghappens, because progress is
progress, no matter how small.
Keep showing up and putting inthe work, because even the
missteps are moving you forward.
Jodi (13:29):
Yes, If you're only focused on your end goal, you
miss out on all the wins alongthe way.
And the joy is in the journeyand we're never done right?
You're never done.
We're never finished.
Don't wait to be perfect tocelebrate those wins.
Celebrate it along the way.
Celebrate each lesson.
Small wins they really do addup to something big.
Sherry (13:48):
All right, here's something to try.
We mentioned it before, but I'mgoing to mention it again
because I think it really helpsmove the needle, which is using
your calendar, whether it'spaper and pencil one or your
digital one on your phone orwhatever app you use but using
it as a reminder to celebrateyour wins.
Mine is every Friday at 10 am.
(14:11):
That's what I'm supposed to bethinking about.
So choose a cadence that worksfor you and then just take a few
minutes on that day to writedown the things that are going
well or at least in the rightdirection.
And whether you decide to do itweekly, monthly or some other
cadence, use those wins to buildmomentum on your journey,
whatever you're going through orworking towards and I've read
(14:31):
in various places that you'rethe average of the five people
that you spend the most timewith.
So the people that you spendtime with matter, and if you're
around people who believe inlearning and improving, that
mindset really rubs off and youstart to see setbacks as chances
to grow instead of failures.
And it's like being in apositive growth focused
(14:52):
environment where everyone'scheering you on and you can't
help but kind of catch thatenergy and, on the same note try
to lead by example and thatkeeps you accountable to not
falling back into kind of anegative mindset that's holding
you back.
Jodi (15:08):
Sure, and the opposite is true.
You may notice, if you'rearound people who are negative,
you might find yourself startingto feel like you're being
pulled into it and you startfeeling a little bit like that
yourself.
It's really easy to startdoubting yourself and to go down
that rabbit hole when you'rearound a lot of negativity.
I get it, you don't want to cuteverybody out of your life.
If you start working every dayon trying to be a more positive
(15:33):
person yourself then it startsto get a little bit easier to
deflect that and maybe switch itfor someone else.
Be that example, and if it getsto be too heavy until you get
to where you need to be, youmight have to start looking at
who's getting your time andattention.
Sherry (15:49):
Setting boundaries isn't cutting people off, it's more
about protecting your peace sothat you can focus.
It's not some big dramaticthing; it's saying I need to
focus on "XYZ" right now so I'mgoing to take a step back.
It can be a quiet, respectfuldecision that prioritizes your
(16:18):
mental and emotional health.
Jodi (16:18):
That's exactly right.
We all have negative people inour lives and we're not saying
you need to cut them all out andput up walls.
Walls keep everybody out.
Boundaries teach people wherethe door is.
Wow.
I believe that quote comes fromMark Groves.
He is a relationship coach anda human connection specialist
(16:40):
and he emphasized thedistinction between walls and
healthy boundaries and notesthat boundaries allow for
well-being and connection ratherthan the complete isolation
that throwing up walls creates.
And we're a bit off task here,but I think it's connected
because you're creating thespace to give room for the right
(17:01):
people to step in in the rightway that will interact with you
in healthy ways so that you canhave peace and you can grow and
stay on track and I feel likewhen the shift happens in you
and you start to change, youstart to feel more positive.
It's kind of like back to that universal thing of like
attracts like and more goodthings are going to come to you.
(17:24):
I feel like every time I have awin, more wins just keep
happening, because it's just theway it works right.
You build that momentum, youstart building that growth
mindset, you start takingpositive steps toward being a
better you and more things justkeep unfolding.
Sherry (17:40):
That's the way progress happens right.
Jodi (17:43):
Yep, that's a true and beautiful thing.
We talk about Carol Dweck'sbook a lot.
If you're feeling stuck andyou're feeling fixed in
something you feel like yourfeet are stuck in cement I would
recommend picking it up.
If you're not a reader, listen.
You feel like your feet arestuck in cement.
I would recommend picking it up.
If you're not a reader, listento it, because you know that's a
really cool thing to do now.
Sherry (18:00):
And anyone can.
Life is about learning andgrowing.
Anytime you catch yourselfsaying I can't do this tack on
yet, it's a simple but powerfulchange, and adding the word yet
opens up the possibility thatyou can learn, grow and improve.
It just takes time, practiceand a little patience.
So when we're wrapping it uptoday, it's just a reminder that
(18:22):
setbacks will feel less likefailures and more like part of
the process.
And every time somethingdoesn't go right, instead of
getting discouraged, you justsay to yourself not yet, but I'm
closer.
So here's the challenge what'sone area of your life where you
can apply a growth mindset thisweek?
Jodi (18:38):
Maybe it's a project at work, a new habit you're trying
to build, or even how you handlesetbacks.
Sherry (18:44):
And remember that, whatever it is, you're not stuck
where you are, you're just inprogress, and progress is
everything.
Jodi (18:52):
Even moving in slow motion is still moving.
Sherry (18:55):
Thanks for hanging out with us today.
If this episode helped you,share it with someone you care
about.
And don't forget, next week'sconversation with Matt Plutko is
one you won't want to miss.
We're going deeper into what itreally looks like to take
ownership of your mindset, yourhealing and your personal growth
.
If you're looking for theresources or ideas we talked
about today, you'll findeverything linked in the show
(19:16):
notes to make it easy and asalways, keep going, keep growing
and we'll see you next time.
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(19:36):
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Jodi (20:24):
Okay, here comes the legalese, the oopsies and the
yinzerese.
Sherry (20:28):
This podcast is for informational and entertainment
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The content shared is based onpersonal experiences and
perspectives.
Nothing shared on this podcastshould be considered
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Thriving Yenzer's LLC, itshosts or any associated parties
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The views expressed by thehosts and guests are their own
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(20:50):
affiliations.
Today's Yenzerese lesson.
Today's word jeet J Reflectthose of any organizations or
affiliations.
Today's Yinzerese lesson.
Today's word Jeet J-E-E-T.
That's Yinzer, for did you eatIn a sentence, jeet, yet Nah,
let's grab a sandwich done forManny's.
It's quick, it's friendly andit usually means someone's
looking out for you.
That's what we do in Pittsburgh.
(21:11):
Stick around, stick around formore real talk, big heart and
small wins right here on this.
Is it the podcast by thrivingusers?
Because I walked in the otherroom and I couldn't remember why
I walked in the other room andthen I remembered that it was to
get my readers water.
Have you heard about the I donot care club?
So good, I'm not that funny.
Oh man, we can't remind me.
(21:32):
I gotta cut that out of thebloopers.
I need to get a water, holyshit, bye.
Here we go.
Today we're talking aboutlife's.
Nope, sorry, but blah, blah,blah.
Anyway, it was a reminder thatI'm just having a complete brain
freeze.
It was a that's where.
(21:54):
Hold on, jodi, I'm dying, don'tdie.
So I'm just talking, it's awrap, okay.
Welcome back to this.
Is it the podcast by ThrivingYinzers where we're talking
about life, its ups, its downsand how to keep moving forward
through it all?
Because, well, this is it,before we get into it, a
reminder that we're just twoYinzer ladies here shooting the
shit, talking about life.
We're not licensed therapistsor counselors or medical
professionals.
So if you are going throughsomething and need support, we
(00:20):
really encourage you to reachout to someone qualified who can
help you through it.
There's no shame.
All right, let's get into it.
Jodi (00:26):
Today we're talking about something that can seriously
change the game when it comes tohandling the hard stuff and
making progress in life, havinga growth mindset.
Sherry (00:34):
You've probably heard this term before and actually we
know you've heard this termbefore if you've been listening
to our podcast.
There's plenty that has beensaid about how a growth mindset
can be the difference in whatmoves you forward or holds you
back.
So there's good reason for it,to the credit of the work of
Stanford psychologist Dr CarolDweck.
Her research showed how a shiftin your mindset literally
(00:55):
prepares you to learn and growforward by rewiring the thought
pathways in your brain.
A growth mindset is the beliefthat your abilities and talents
can develop with effort, withlearning, with persistence, and
by having this framework ofthought you're really priming
the pathways in your brain toachieve something more.
And, as we were doing the lastepisode with Dr Anthony Kovatch,
(01:18):
this idea really tied in If youknow Dr Kovatch or if you've
listened to the episode.
He is a very inspiring person,very special man, and he's
accomplished so much in his life.
He's now training for atriathlon at 74 years old.
That doesn't happen with afixed mindset , no way.
That's someone who believes inprogress, even when it's hard,
(01:40):
and it shows that mindset isn'tjust something that you read
about.
It really is something thatquite literally shapes your
recovery, your resilience andeven your reality.
Jodi (01:52):
Right.
So, a growth mindset is theopposite of that fixed mindset
where we believe our traits areset in stone, like I can't do
math, I'll never be a morningperson, I can't work out.
Whatever it is.
You're telling yourself thatnarrative and it's as if we've
decided our abilities arewritten in permanent marker,
completely unchangeable.
But most things can improvewith effort and the right
(02:15):
approach.
Maybe you have struggled withmath in the past, but it doesn't
mean that you can't figure itout and get better.
Maybe mornings aren't your thing, but have you really given it a
shot?
Or have you just said I'm not amorning person?
Let that be your excuse and hitthe snooze button over and over
again before you even let yourfeet hit the floor.
(02:35):
A growth mindset flips thatscript.
Instead of saying I can't dothis, it becomes I can't do this
yet.
Instead of I'll never be amorning person.
It's mornings are tough, butmaybe if I get out of bed a
little bit earlier and find aroutine that works, I can make
them better.
It's realizing change ispossible, one small step at a
(02:56):
time.
I heard similar phrases a lotin the classroom, especially as
a math teacher.
"I'm just not good at math, Iwould hear.
One of the most important partsof my job at that time was to
make sure that my studentsstarted to see themselves as
capable of improving and capableof learning more about math, no
matter where their startingpoint.
(03:17):
And the way to do that wasactually teaching them about the
science behind the idea ofgrowth versus a fixed mindset.
And once they had thatunderstanding, they were so much
more open to believing in whatwas possible for themselves, and
it really was the key to unlockthe change in the direction
where they thought they wereheaded as far as their math
(03:39):
education went.
And that little word "yet" isthe most important word that
we're going to say today becausethat's where the magic happens.
A little word that packs a bigpunch.
Sherry (03:51):
It's not I can't do this .
It's I can't do this, YET.
The shift in perspective aboutlearning anything is extremely
empowering to, you know,students in a math classroom,
but it also applies to adults ofany age, and it can be applied
to, you know, students in a mathclassroom, but it also applies
to adults of any age, and it canbe applied to you know the
difficult things that we gothrough in life, or just wanting
(04:12):
to learn something new.
It was those times in theclassroom that came back to me
in my life during my ownpersonal and medical challenges.
At my lowest point, I had toremind myself that I wasn't
going to be stuck forever.
I just wasn't okay yet, and itwas the reframing of my thoughts
and remembering all thosethings that I would tell my
students about how importantmindset is that ended up being
(04:36):
exactly what I needed to starttaking tiny steps toward a new
life at that time.
And, I think about what DrKovatch shared in his own story,
how he used unfortunate familyhistory of a devastating illness
that inflicted his mother andhe asked how do I build from
(04:56):
this?
Jodi (04:57):
I was thinking about how, even though he's coming in last,
he kept going that to me is aperfect example of growth
mindset.
Sherry (05:04):
Yeah, I would agree with that.
He had the whole entourage ofthe sweep behind him and he
could have hopped in
Jodi (05:10):
.Absolutely I would have.
Sherry (05:12):
He was still trying to pass somebody at the very end.
That's an example of using agrowth mindset.
It was a reminder that thattype of mindset is functional
and powerful, and as I continueon that journey myself, I remind
myself that growth iscontinuous and even though I'm
(05:32):
not where I want to be yet, I'mexactly where I need to be now,
and that's actually a mantrathat I use daily.
Jodi (05:40):
The best thing about a growth mindset is it does
actually take the pressure off.
You don't have to be perfect,you just have to be willing to
learn and improve and keepshowing up.
It's kind of like me with myspin classes that I started to
do again and gosh, I just I hateit and I love it and I go and
I'm last and it hurts and it'shard, but I have decided that
(06:02):
it's good for me and I just keepgoing.
I can't keep up with the class.
I can't follow the instructor.
But, I'll be there every Mondayevening.
I'm going to keep going and Ican tell, even after just being
back four times, I feel a littlestronger every time I come out.
Even though my stats aren'treally getting better, I still
(06:23):
feel stronger and I feel betterfor the fact that I'm doing it.
Sherry (06:26):
And you are.
You're getting a littlestronger each time, and that was
because you made the decisionto start.
You have to start.
Jodi (06:32):
Exactly, and I took that pressure off myself.
I'm not trying to be the best,I'm not trying to come in number
one.
I'm just trying to show up formyself, really.
And to me, that's me trying toexercise having a growth mindset
.
Sherry (06:46):
Right, and that's trying to put the idea of a growth
mindset in your forethought sothat when you do hit a pothole
in life, instead of saying, "I'mnot cut out for this, this
really sucks, my life is shitty,or one of another umpteen
negative bullshit stories wetell ourselves, we then can
begin to ask once the dustsettles, what can I learn from
(07:06):
this and what can I do right nowto make things even just the
tiniest bit better?
And eventually that littleshift really is what makes all
the difference, and I want tospeak to that because that kind
of mindset is actually at theheart of the self-mastery
approach we're going to talkabout next week with Matt Plutko
from Revelations Counseling andWellness.
(07:28):
So, if you're wondering what itlooks like to apply this type
of mindset, not just in theory,but how you actually live, heal
and grow, definitely stay tunedfor that conversation.
Jodi (07:38):
I'm looking forward to that myself.
Sherry (07:59):
Me too
Jodi (08:00):
The reason I'm looking forward to that interview is
that is something that I'm stilllearning.
Learning to live with a growthmindset is something that I am
really focusing in on this yearfor 2025.
I'm slowly progressing, but itdoesn't come easy but it is
possible.
I've always wanted to write.
I want to be a writer.
And the only thing that I wasnever doing was writing.
And, like I would sit there andgo, oh, I could never do it, I
could never do it.
Well, I wasn't doing it at all,and so I started doing just a
little bit here and there and Istarted forcing myself to
(08:20):
journal and, honestly, I stilldon't do it every single night
like I told myself I would.
But I do make sure that Icontinuously, at least three
times a week, I sit down andwrite something.
I try to, at least once a month, post something that I've
written somewhere online and I'mtelling myself I'm a writer.
(08:41):
I actually have a few peoplereading.
I've made 44 cents writingstories, so I can call myself a
writer now.
But again, that's how I'mtrying to shift my mindset.
Sherry (08:52):
Just like getting on the bike at spin class, though.
You made the decision to startand now you're building from
there.
Jodi (08:58):
That's what a growth mindset is all about and we talk
about it all the time.
You have to start, to start, tostart, yeah, and it's not easy,
it really isn't easy, but again, I love that using the "yet
word, that is such a key shift.
Sherry (09:16):
It really is because now you're open to possibilities
rather than closing yourself offbecause it's something that's
out of your comfort zone or thatyou picture other people doing,
but why not me?
It's not that you can't, it'sI'm not doing it yet.
Jodi (09:31):
Absolutely, and people say it all the time I'm not there
yet.
Maybe you're trying to get overa hurt, or you're trying to
repair a relationship and you'renot there yet, but it doesn't
mean you're not going to getthere.
Sherry (09:42):
Yep, and sometimes it's tough to reframe your thoughts
that way.
But instead of getting down onyourself or someone else or
angry or seeing things ascriticism, when you start seeing
it as an opportunity to learn,an opportunity to grow, an
opportunity to be better, likewe'll hear from Matt Plutko next
(10:03):
time, part of self-mastery isbeing honest with yourself and
others and choosing to respondwith intention instead of
reactivity.
And that can be yourinteractions with others and
also with yourself, becausesometimes the biggest quarrels,
disagreements, fights, theself-loathing kind of really
comes through in a fixed mindset.
Jodi (10:24):
And when you can make that shift to the growth mindset,
then you can be a little kinderto yourself as well, maybe
you're struggling with arelationship and you're trying
to repair it and hope to say I'mjust not there yet Doesn't mean
you're not going to get there,doesn't mean you're not going to
be better.
Grow together.
Sherry (10:41):
Instead of saying this person is a real freaking jag
off and will never change, youcan start asking how do we grow
through this together?
And that shifts the focus fromfrustration and shutting each
other out to what are thepossibilities, because you're
trying to seek perspective andopen up the channels of
communication.
And that means really listeningto gain understanding and not
(11:05):
planning your next cutthroatcomment, because no one's
winning in that scenario.
Jodi (11:10):
And relationships require growth.
If you're not learning andadapting together, things
deteriorate over time.
All relationships change.
Grow and develop over time.
If you want to grow in apositive way.
Sherry (11:25):
Growth mindset is key, it is true, and can be applied
to all types of relationships inlife family, friendships,
marriage, work.
It's just a really powerful wayto move forward with a
refreshed perspective.
Jodi (11:38):
It really is.
Really good leaders don'talways come at everything like
they're the smartest person inthe room.
Right, you have to be able tohear other people and be open to
other ideas, and that's a trueleader.
If you always think you're thesmartest kid in the room, you're
not learning anything.
Sherry (11:55):
So how do we actually build a growth mindset you?
Jodi (11:58):
Try to see it as a chance to stretch yourself instead of a
reason to quit.
Sherry (12:03):
Like learning a new skill at work, or even just
trying something new that's outof your comfort zone.
Instead of thinking I can't dothis, ask what can I learn from
this?
So that's embracing challenges.
Jodi (12:15):
Right, because mistakes aren't failures, they're lessons
.
It's how you learn, it's howyou grow.
We don't start out knowing howto talk.
We don't start out knowing howto walk.
These are all things that youbuild up to and really I feel
like, as I've gotten older,trying to learn new things
actually keeps you a littlesharp and it makes you feel
(12:35):
better in general.
Sherry (12:37):
Yep, so I think the two biggest take aways; If I were to
sum up growth mindset in anutshell, it's embracing
challenges and learning fromyour mistakes.
And then, as we said earlier,instead of beating yourself up,
you ask what can this teach me?
Honestly, in my life, some ofmy biggest wins came from my
mistakes and what I learned frommaking them, and it's all about
(12:58):
how you use them.
Every mistake is just data.
It's showing you what works,what doesn't and what needs
tweaking.
Jodi (13:06):
If you're never messing up , you're probably not pushing
yourself hard enough.
Think about how many times didyou fall before you learned to
walk.
It's the old yogi saying no mud, no lotus.
Sherry (13:16):
Yeah, no flowers without the rain, that's right.
That's where the learninghappens, because progress is
progress, no matter how small.
Keep showing up and putting inthe work, because even the
missteps are moving you forward.
Jodi (13:29):
Yes, If you're only focused on your end goal, you
miss out on all the wins alongthe way.
And the joy is in the journeyand we're never done right?
You're never done.
We're never finished.
Don't wait to be perfect tocelebrate those wins.
Celebrate it along the way.
Celebrate each lesson.
Small wins they really do addup to something big.
Sherry (13:48):
All right, here's something to try.
We mentioned it before, but I'mgoing to mention it again
because I think it really helpsmove the needle, which is using
your calendar, whether it'spaper and pencil one or your
digital one on your phone orwhatever app you use but using
it as a reminder to celebrateyour wins.
Mine is every Friday at 10 am.
(14:11):
That's what I'm supposed to bethinking about.
So choose a cadence that worksfor you and then just take a few
minutes on that day to writedown the things that are going
well or at least in the rightdirection.
And whether you decide to do itweekly, monthly or some other
cadence, use those wins to buildmomentum on your journey,
whatever you're going through orworking towards and I've read
(14:31):
in various places that you'rethe average of the five people
that you spend the most timewith.
So the people that you spendtime with matter, and if you're
around people who believe inlearning and improving, that
mindset really rubs off and youstart to see setbacks as chances
to grow instead of failures.
And it's like being in apositive growth focused
(14:52):
environment where everyone'scheering you on and you can't
help but kind of catch thatenergy and, on the same note try
to lead by example and thatkeeps you accountable to not
falling back into kind of anegative mindset that's holding
you back.
Jodi (15:08):
Sure, and the opposite is true.
You may notice, if you'rearound people who are negative,
you might find yourself startingto feel like you're being
pulled into it and you startfeeling a little bit like that
yourself.
It's really easy to startdoubting yourself and to go down
that rabbit hole when you'rearound a lot of negativity.
I get it, you don't want to cuteverybody out of your life.
If you start working every dayon trying to be a more positive
(15:33):
person yourself then it startsto get a little bit easier to
deflect that and maybe switch itfor someone else.
Be that example, and if it getsto be too heavy until you get
to where you need to be, youmight have to start looking at
who's getting your time andattention.
Sherry (15:49):
Setting boundaries isn't cutting people off, it's more
about protecting your peace sothat you can focus.
It's not some big dramaticthing; it's saying I need to
focus on "XYZ" right now so I'mgoing to take a step back.
It can be a quiet, respectfuldecision that prioritizes your
(16:18):
mental and emotional health.
Jodi (16:18):
That's exactly right.
We all have negative people inour lives and we're not saying
you need to cut them all out andput up walls.
Walls keep everybody out.
Boundaries teach people wherethe door is.
Wow.
I believe that quote comes fromMark Groves.
He is a relationship coach anda human connection specialist
(16:40):
and he emphasized thedistinction between walls and
healthy boundaries and notesthat boundaries allow for
well-being and connection ratherthan the complete isolation
that throwing up walls creates.
And we're a bit off task here,but I think it's connected
because you're creating thespace to give room for the right
(17:01):
people to step in in the rightway that will interact with you
in healthy ways so that you canhave peace and you can grow and
stay on track and I feel likewhen the shift happens in you
and you start to change, youstart to feel more positive.
It's kind of like back to that universal thing of like
attracts like and more goodthings are going to come to you.
(17:24):
I feel like every time I have awin, more wins just keep
happening, because it's just theway it works right.
You build that momentum, youstart building that growth
mindset, you start takingpositive steps toward being a
better you and more things justkeep unfolding.
Sherry (17:40):
That's the way progress happens right.
Jodi (17:43):
Yep, that's a true and beautiful thing.
We talk about Carol Dweck'sbook a lot.
If you're feeling stuck andyou're feeling fixed in
something you feel like yourfeet are stuck in cement I would
recommend picking it up.
If you're not a reader, listen.
You feel like your feet arestuck in cement.
I would recommend picking it up.
If you're not a reader, listento it, because you know that's a
really cool thing to do now.
Sherry (18:00):
And anyone can.
Life is about learning andgrowing.
Anytime you catch yourselfsaying I can't do this tack on
yet, it's a simple but powerfulchange, and adding the word yet
opens up the possibility thatyou can learn, grow and improve.
It just takes time, practiceand a little patience.
So when we're wrapping it uptoday, it's just a reminder that
(18:22):
setbacks will feel less likefailures and more like part of
the process.
And every time somethingdoesn't go right, instead of
getting discouraged, you justsay to yourself not yet, but I'm
closer.
So here's the challenge what'sone area of your life where you
can apply a growth mindset thisweek?
Jodi (18:38):
Maybe it's a project at work, a new habit you're trying
to build, or even how you handlesetbacks.
Sherry (18:44):
And remember that, whatever it is, you're not stuck
where you are, you're just inprogress, and progress is
everything.
Jodi (18:52):
Even moving in slow motion is still moving.
Sherry (18:55):
Thanks for hanging out with us today.
If this episode helped you,share it with someone you care
about.
And don't forget, next week'sconversation with Matt Plutko is
one you won't want to miss.
We're going deeper into what itreally looks like to take
ownership of your mindset, yourhealing and your personal growth
.
If you're looking for theresources or ideas we talked
about today, you'll findeverything linked in the show
(19:16):
notes to make it easy and asalways, keep going, keep growing
and we'll see you next time.
Please take a second to makesure you are following the show
in your favorite podcastplatform.
Leave us a rating or a quickreview and share it with some
friends and family.
Every follow-in review helps usreach more people.
This is it Make it happen.
(19:36):
This podcast is a product ofThriving Yenzers LLC, a home
services business that helps youreclaim your time and space.
We conquer overwhelm bytackling your to-do list with
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To learn more, visit us atthrivingyenserscom.
If you or someone you know isin crisis, please reach out to a
(19:57):
trusted professional or crisishotline in your area.
Help is available 24-7nationwide at the
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(20:18):
You can reach them by calling1-888-796-8226.
Jodi (20:24):
Okay, here comes the legalese, the oopsies and the
yinzerese.
Sherry (20:28):
This podcast is for informational and entertainment
purposes only.
The content shared is based onpersonal experiences and
perspectives.
Nothing shared on this podcastshould be considered
professional advice.
Thriving Yenzer's LLC, itshosts or any associated parties
are not liable for any actionstaken or consequences arising
from the information provided.
The views expressed by thehosts and guests are their own
and do not necessarily reflectthose of any organizations or
(20:50):
affiliations.
Today's Yenzerese lesson.
Today's word jeet J Reflectthose of any organizations or
affiliations.
Today's Yinzerese lesson.
Today's word Jeet J-E-E-T.
That's Yinzer, for did you eatIn a sentence, jeet, yet Nah,
let's grab a sandwich done forManny's.
It's quick, it's friendly andit usually means someone's
looking out for you.
That's what we do in Pittsburgh.
(21:11):
Stick around, stick around formore real talk, big heart and
small wins right here on this.
Is it the podcast by thrivingusers?
Because I walked in the otherroom and I couldn't remember why
I walked in the other room andthen I remembered that it was to
get my readers water.
Have you heard about the I donot care club?
So good, I'm not that funny.
Oh man, we can't remind me.
(21:32):
I gotta cut that out of thebloopers.
I need to get a water, holyshit, bye.
Here we go.
Today we're talking aboutlife's.
Nope, sorry, but blah, blah,blah.
Anyway, it was a reminder thatI'm just having a complete brain
freeze.
It was a that's where.
(21:54):
Hold on, jodi, I'm dying, don'tdie.
So I'm just talking, it's awrap, okay.
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