To me, the thought 'not yet' is a little disconcerting. I find myself to be a very ambitious person, maybe overly-ambitious at times. I like to decide when, where, what, who, how, and see my dreams and plans realized in a pretty orderly fashion. So, to think about something not happening in that order, and rather having to wait on a later moment, when met with the response of 'not yet' is uncomfortable. However, when I fail, my plans fall through, there is an impediment and things crumble, well, I do seem to be pretty affected by it. I am disappointed, in myself, and my ability to see things through. In those circumstances, I think I do go through a hiccup that sometimes feels like an eon, where I do a little self-torture. But for the most part, from experience, I've learned that life goes on, and that there are other opportunities out there. But, thinking back on it. Other opportunities are usually what I re-direct myself toward. After watching Carol Dweck's TED talk on the notion of "Not Yet" as a mindset for growth, I found it highly intriguing. Mainly, because with these two little words, I can use them to keep focused on my original target, not give up, and just be patient enough to pause and realize that the time has not come, but will. That that goal that I set out to achieve does not need to be altered, or totally reassessed, but that I can take more time to work towards it, and persevere. I think that is even more empowering than changing directions and foci. To persist and follow through, achieve what was initially not a breeze.
To have such a mindset is encouraging, it is hopeful, it is limitless, it is patient, and confident. I'd like to say that I wouldn't mind bulking up on all those personal virtues. And so, Not Yet will definitely be added to my tool belt. And I will be sure to share its utility with my future students, and my own son.
I loved that through her research and study, Dweck was able to really shift the achievement gap in schools across the country, like in Harlem, and on a Native American reservation in Washington, by teaching those students this growth mindset, with primarily those two words.
And I love that our brains are malleable.
Dweck talks about the power of "not yet" for students, and that's primarily how we've talked about in class, too. But your post reminds me that we as teachers also need to have the phrase "not yet" in the back of our own minds when we're wobbling in our teaching. Thanks for the reminder.
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