Manter um growth mindset ajudou-me a ultrapassar o medo.

When making a list of things I want to do before dying, I never gave a single thought to including skiing, because skiing was always on the top of any list of things I thought I might die while doing. I have always considered skiing an unnatural act, partly due to my lifelong fear of heights and fundamental respect for the forces of gravity. The long ride up a mountain on a ski lift always appeared to be a prolonged anxiety attack quickly followed by a barely-controlled downward glide at speeds no human should move without a parachute. I hate having things on my feet that make me move faster than a race-walk. So no one was more surprised than I when, last week, I found myself enrolled in a ski trip with a reunion of friends and family on way to do some real skiing, which I even didn’t know where I was going or where I was staying. When Albert Einstein, one of the greatest thinkers of all time, said “One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts,” he might as well be talking about me (modest aside ;-), debating internally 'but why did I get into this?' or talking about any human being trying to shift their mindset to one of “growth” ; I started to think to myself: 'challenges are good, they will make you grow Marisa!). The trick is to stretch one’s abilities enough that the only “solid ground” upon which to feel secure is the inner strength to persevere and the belief that it is possible to learn this crazy new thing. The “growth” mindset is experienced in real-time when we jump into the discomfort of doing something unfamiliar with the support of others. My fellow ski friends, husband and son, became a support group who reminded me to approach things I know I will not be good at the same way a kid does, with a judgment-free openness to the fun of trying. They reminded me of this with their goodwill and encouragement, and also with the fact that they were with me. While skiing never caught on for me, those days on the side of a mountain were more than just struggling through anxiety and aching muscles. It became clear to me that even when I am not naturally drawn to an activity and have no talent for it, it is still possible to learn it. And that what is learned when facing down one fear is transferable to other challenges. This is what the research about the “growth” mindset is about. When deeply involved with stretching our abilities, facing uncertainty, and focusing on the skills that move us forward toward a desired goal rather than a predetermined outcome, something shifts in our thinking and emotions, something we can continue to expand personally and professionally for as long as we are alive. So what started to be an exciting but also scary week, end up to being full of fun, laughter, pain (ask my muscles ;-)) and practice of how maintaining a growth mindset helps to transform fear! In summary: * Fear is also overcome through the development of skills, even more, when the risk is real. * Struggling can be the way to find new psychological “muscles” of attentive listening and interacting with neither script nor certainty. * Letting go of control over anything but our own choices. Regardless the environment and all the external factors we can’t control, the more skills we develop, the more choices we have. * We are most successful when we think about nothing but the present moment. Our focus has to be responding to the trail and its shifting conditions. The slightest tilt toward self-consciousness, second-guessing or judgment leads to a fall. Or a fail. So needless to say, there are always plenty of falls, fails, and flails, because most of us are much more practiced at judging, predicting and self-criticizing than the allowing a moment to unfold. Shifting one’s mindset to keep a growth mindset is the key to staying with something new and challenging long enough to grow a skill set that can take us further down an unfamiliar paths. And if we think about what our life, our career, our business is... nothing more... than unknown paths. Keep practicing a growth mindset! Marisa Lago de Carvalho Founder Mind Bridges, Coach and Mentor

Tive o grande privilégio de me conectar e ter a Marisa como minha Coach, como parte do Programa de Mentoria Global da Wedu. Começámos a nossa jornada juntas no meio da pandemia de COVID-19 e, num momento tão crítico, foi realmente um privilégio, refletir com ela e me alinhar ainda mais com o meu propósito de vida. O que mais me chama a atenção na interação com a Marisa é a ênfase dela em: (1) desenvolver uma mentalidade construtiva e de crescimento, ou seja, o que vemos como um desafio, é na verdade uma oportunidade de perseverar e melhorar, e (2) aproveitar ao máximo os conhecimentos e recursos que temos à nossa disposição. Também apreciei como ela me fez ver as metas, as quais, não sao apenas uma lista de tarefas, mas sim como uma série de hábitos que devem ser incutidos ao longo do tempo – como ‘degraus’ para um sucesso sustentado. Em cada sessão, ela desafia o teu "porquê?" . E acredito, que isso fornece uma clareza tremenda para o nosso caminho de forma a tornar-nos na melhor versão de nós mesmos. Eu recomendaria fortemente a Marisa para qualquer pessoa que esteja se sentindo oprimida(o), durante um período de transição, que apesar de procurar viver a sua vida ao máximo, é incapaz de articular o que isso pode ser. Ela irá encorajá-lo(a), a elaborar os seus objetivos em pequenos passos viáveis , e você verá resultados positivos em um tempo mínimo. Uma palavra de cautela: deves estar aberto para desaprender, aprender e reaprender ao longo do processo! Sempre serei grata a Marisa por seu constante apoio e incentivo. Desejo-lhe o melhor sempre! Vandana Gupta – India

I have had the great privilege of connecting with and being coached by Marisa, as part of the Wedu Global Mentorship Programme. We began our journey together in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and at such a critical time, it was truly a gift to be reflecting with her and aligning further to my higher purpose. What stands out most to me about interacting with Marisa, is her emphasis on (1) developing a growth mindset, i.e. what we see as a challenge, is actually an opportunity to persevere and get better, and (2) making the most of the knowledge and resources we have, at our disposal. I also appreciate how she made me look at goals as not only a checklist of tasks, but a series of habits that are to be inculcated over time – steppingstones for sustained success. In every discussion, she probes your ‘why ?’ and I believe this provides tremendous clarity to your path towards becoming the best version of yourself. I would highly recommend Marisa to anybody who is feeling a sense of overwhelm during a time of transition, seeking to live their life to the fullest, and unable to articulate what this might be. She will encourage you to craft your goals into small actionable steps , and you will see positive results in minimal time. A word of caution: you must be open to unlearn, learn and relearn throughout the process! I will always remain grateful to Marisa for her constant support and encouragement. I wish her the best always! Vandana Gupta – India