From self-doubt to self-belief how small daily shifts changed everything
The Day I Almost Gave Up
It was a Tuesday. I remember that clearly because it rained hard that morning, and for some reason, the sound of the storm matched the noise in my head. I had just received my third rejection email in a week from a publisher I deeply admired.
I stared at the screen, heart sinking, and said to myself, “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
But something odd happened that afternoon.
Instead of closing my laptop and escaping into Netflix, I opened a folder I hadn’t looked at in months one labeled Wins. Inside were screenshots of messages from readers who had said my writing helped them through hard moments. A quote from Carol Dweck stared back at me:
“Becoming is better than being.”
That was the turning point. I didn’t need to be “there” yet I just had to keep going.
Since then, I’ve built a daily routine around cultivating a growth mindset one that helps me show up, even when it’s stormy outside or in my head.
Here are 10 habits that made all the difference.
1. Start Your Day with “Yet”
Swap “I can’t do this” for “I can’t do this yet.”
This tiny word shifts your brain from fixed to flexible. Every morning, I remind myself that skills are learnable, and growth is a process, not a destination.
2. Write a 5-Minute Journal
I jot down:
- 1 thing I learned yesterday
- 1 challenge I faced and how I handled it
- 1 thing I’m grateful for
This simple act keeps me focused on progress, not perfection.
3. Embrace “Productive Failure”
Instead of fearing mistakes, I now label them “feedback.”
Every time I mess up, I ask:
- What was in my control?
- What can I do differently next time?
This reflection turned failure into fuel.
4. Consume Growth-Driven Content
I replaced doomscrolling with 15 minutes of reading or listening to people who stretch me.
Favorites:
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- The “Hidden Brain” podcast
- Medium articles on learning and resilience
5. Celebrate Micro-Wins
Did I write 100 words? Show up for that call? Try something scary?
I mark it with a on my wall calendar.
Small wins build momentum—and momentum builds belief.
6. Practice “Challenge Framing”
Instead of seeing obstacles as stop signs, I now view them as mental gyms.
When a project feels overwhelming, I say:
“This is where I grow.”
And I lean in.
7. Revisit Past Growth
Once a week, I read an old journal entry or look at a previous version of my work.
It’s humbling and powerful to see how far I’ve come.
8. Surround Yourself with Stretchers
Who you talk to shapes how you think.
I actively seek conversations with people who challenge assumptions, ask questions, and cheer for process not just results.
9. Detach Worth from Outcome
A growth mindset means not tying your self-worth to success or failure.
I tell myself:
“Today’s outcome doesn’t define me. Today’s effort shapes me.”
10. End the Day with Curiosity
Before bed, I ask:
- What surprised me today?
- What stretched me?
- What can I try differently tomorrow?
It keeps my mindset agile even in dreams.
Final Thoughts
Growth isn’t a straight line it’s a loop. A rhythm. A choice we make every single day.
That Tuesday when I nearly gave up? I’m grateful for it now. Because it taught me that the difference between staying stuck and moving forward wasn’t talent, timing, or luck.
It was mindset.
And mindset, I’ve learned, is a habit.
Which of these habits will you try first?
Let me know in the comments—or share a growth mindset habit of your own.
– Prince
