{"id":6216,"date":"2020-01-13T19:17:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T23:17:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=6216"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:29:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:29:29","slug":"effortless-perfection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/effortless-perfection\/","title":{"rendered":"Myth of Effortless Perfection\u2014A Fixed Mindset Holds You Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many children, especially young girls, are taught that their value lies in their perfection, and that this perfection shouldn’t take any effort. But effortless perfection is a myth, and believing in the need to demonstrate effortless perfection is a dangerous mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll cover Carol Dweck’s growth and fixed mindsets and why effortless perfection is a myth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Effortless Perfection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Author Malcolm Gladwell has suggested that society values accomplishment that seems effortless over achievement through work and practice. We like superheroes with extraordinary abilities to easily surmount obstacles.
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The downside of this belief can be costly. A Duke University study found anxiety and depression<\/a> among female students who aspired to \u201ceffortless perfection\u201d in appearance and in their academics. In contrast, growth-minded people believe that no one is perfect. No matter how talented you are, you have to work and improve to fulfill your potential.
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Fixed Mindset<\/strong>s + Effortless Perfection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you have a fixed mindset<\/a>, you believe your abilities are unchangeable. You were born with certain traits and a certain amount of intelligence and that\u2019s that. Many people are trained in this mindset from an early age \u2014 for instance, by a teacher who believed your IQ determines everything: You\u2019re either smart or you\u2019re dumb; you can learn or you can\u2019t. These people also believe in effortless perfection–you shouldn’t be caught trying too hard.
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When you view your abilities as unchangeable, you feel you must constantly prove yourself<\/strong>. If people get only a set amount of intelligence and a certain character, you want to prove you have a lot, although you secretly worry you were shortchanged. You don’t want to look stupid or fail. You strive for effortless perfection. You feel you\u2019re being judged or rated in every situation<\/strong> and must measure up. Children inculcated with this mindset often fear losing their parents\u2019 or teachers\u2019 approval and love if they fail.
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Growth Mindset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you have a growth mindset<\/a>, you believe the abilities you\u2019re born with are a starting point you can build on with hard work, persistence, and the right learning strategies<\/a><\/strong>. You have a passion for learning, welcome mistakes as opportunities to learn, and seek challenges so you can stretch. You also have a greater ability to survive difficult times. You don’t believe in effortless perfection (or even perfection). You believe in growth.
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The author first encountered the growth mindset<\/a> as a young researcher while studying how children coped with failure. She gave kids a series of puzzles to solve, progressing from easy to difficult ones. She was surprised to find that some children loved attempting the hard puzzles, relishing the challenge and opportunity to become smarter. Until then, the author had viewed intelligence and problem-solving as fixed abilities, but watching kids learn from failure<\/a> changed her mind.
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Believing in the ability to learn and grow doesn\u2019t mean believing anyone can become an Einstein or believing anyone can do anything they aspire to if they apply enough effort. But the growth mindset recognizes that you can\u2019t predict someone\u2019s potential or how far their passion, work, and learning can take them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, people with fixed mindsets and growth mindsets come to view the nature of success differently<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n