3 Mindsets to Fuel or Drain You

Mindset is often left as. this abstraction. Heard about but not really understood in a practical way. But your mindset is the operating system of your life, so I think it’s imperative we really get what this is.

The way you think frames the way you live. When your perspective shifts, your choices shift. And when your choices shift, your outcomes inevitably follow.

Here are three key mindset divides that determine whether you stay limited or expand:
(there are more, but this is a good place to start)

Fixed vs. Growth.
A fixed mindset believes your abilities are set in stone. It resists change, avoids risk, and interprets failure as proof of inadequacy. A growth mindset, on the other hand, recognizes that skills can be developed and perspectives reshaped. The difference is not in talent, natural gifts, or luck, but in the posture you choose to take: stagnation or evolution.
Signs of a fixed mindset: You tell yourself, “I’ve never been good with money, so why bother budgeting?” Or in relationships, you avoid hard conversations because you assume “this will never change.”

Scarcity vs. Abundance.
Scarcity has you living as if there will never be enough — not enough opportunity, time, money, or love. It cultivates anxiety, comparison, and hoarding. Abundance takes another look at what you thought were your limitations. Abundance says “it’s possible,” scarcity says “it’s not.” From abundance, collaboration feels safer (collaboration isn’t just a corporate word — it’s for your relationships too!), generosity becomes natural, and progress accelerates.

Signs of a scarcity mindset: You feel anxious when your partner spends time with friends because deep down you think “their attention for me is limited.” Or you hesitate to celebrate someone’s success because part of you thinks “if they win, that means less for me.”

Closed vs. Open.
A closed mindset spends a lot of energy protecting what is already known. It resists new information and defends old patterns. An open mindset stays curious — willing to consider perspectives, test ideas, and adapt when necessary. Openness is not about naivety or weakness; it is about humility. It keeps you teachable, and therefore, expandable.

Signs of a closed mindset: When someone suggests a different way to do something, you find yourself mentally arguing back, brushing it off, or thinking “that won’t work” before even giving it a try. Or you shut down a partner’s idea before even exploring it.

The most successful people are not necessarily luckier, but they almost always have a different lens out of which they view and approach life. Successful eople choose expansion over limitations. More over less. Flexibility over rigidity.

Mindset sets the stage. When you change it, your performance changes with it. New and better results are right around the corner. Stay consistent.