How to Nourish Your Growth Mindset (It all Started With A Blocked Toilet)
It's not that I'm so smart. It's just that I stay with problems longer. Albert Einstein
The subject of a mindset has been discussed here quite often, but yesterday's practical events led me to think of this blog post, and a convo in live chat with Kyle regarding learning earlier today inspired it.
As most of you know, I have been traveling in Mexico all year, looking for somewhere to live
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The downside of that is the fact that all my belongings are in a rucksack. And have you any idea how much space technology takes up these days? Or how close I have come to throwing out my Yeti microphone. Don't panic, vloggers; I am more likely to throw my rucksack out first!!!!
Anyway, to get on with the story, I was in live chat yesterday, outwardly busily procrastinating, but actually getting writing inspiration in the process. It is amazing how often whatever comes up in chat inspires a blog post. Funny how writers' block doesn't occur in chat. So I suddenly got a blocked toilet and put into chat that I had to go and deal with the said toilet.
I looked in the laundry/ utility room where I am staying, and there was no plunger. I am an hour's drive from the nearest supermarket. So I raid the wardrobe and find just one rusty metal coathanger. I am staying in a well-maintained place, and all the coathangers are posh material. Anyway, that was so rusty I couldn't unwind it. So I contorted it into some odd positions which nowhere reached the blockage.
In my absence, there were some great ingenious ideas in chat; thank you, everyone, for your input. so I have a look around my kitchen, and I see my homemade oral rehydration kit. Sodium bicarbonate, sea salt, and magnesium chloride.
So I get to thinking what sodium bicarbonate does in a kitchen whilst at the same time thanking my lucky stars I am an ex-chef. Bicarb is a raising agent; it creates bubbles. I empty what water I can out of the toilet with the aid of an old jamjar. I boil water and put an obscene amount of bicarb and boiling water down the loo and left it. Not even one swear word passed my lips; I just left it. This morning checked the flushing, and it worked.
Granted, yesterday, I was really in no position to have a fixed mindset. The shops were shutting, and I didn't have time to go to the city. I have a personal butler on site every day, but he had just gone home for the day. I had to find a way to get that toilet moving. You have no idea how many ideas with plastic bags didn't work. It's amazing how the idea of going to the toilet in the cold during the night in the garden spurs you on.
A person's skill sets, talents, and knowledge have an unlimited ceiling to breach. Just because a person can breach all of those ceilings doesn't mean they will. This can be achieved with hard work, steely determination, and a drive to keep growing and learning.
All that a person is is never set in stone. Cultivating a growth mindset helps pave the way for a long life of fulfillment and happiness. A growth mindset opens new and exciting possibilities. You can read it on my new blog post below
Recent Comments
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You are the Macgyver of Mexico.
It is a great feeling to add knowledge to our minds and then to be able to access and re-use it in a real-life (do or die situation).
Alex
I was called Macgyver for years back in the day, Have yet to weld a crankshaft to an engine busted in half with a nickel and cord plugged into the wall. But I could fix a walkman in my sleep back then. Sure miss Radio Shack.
Radio Shack was a great place for a long time. It is a shame they did not survive, as they were. In theory, they are called the source now. But the early days were the best.
Alex
They are back online now, thats a blessing. Great place for an open mind, and when in a pinch, used a few odd tools to make things happen. Thank goodness for solving past problems.
I so agree Alex. Radio Shack is still here in Mexico. I bought a microphone from than a few weeks ago
What a great quote and your live example is a perfect illustration.
Really like this quote. I never thought of it that way before but it is very true.
It's not that I'm so smart. It's just that I stay with problems longer. Albert Einstein
Thanks so much for sharing.
I love everything that came out of his mouth, but I love that quote, When I was fifty I decided I was going to get a first class degree. One thing I learned I was definitely not smarter than my class mates who got a 2:1, but I did think things a lot more and it paid off
Good to hear you solved your problem, but I will never look at a plastic bag in the same way again.lol.
Stephen
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Hi Catherine,
Regarding Blogged toilets, we had 2 in a matter of 12 months and had to call the plumber.
We are still waiting for the second bill to arrive, which will cost a bit since we called the plumber after hours.
I will take your advice and try the Bicarb soda trick before calling the plumber again.
Thanks for your informative article.
Elke