This one for the ones who feel stuck, but haven’t given up hope just yet.

You’ve read the quotes. You’ve done the work. You know what a growth mindset is supposed to sound like.

But here’s the truth: Sometimes, you’re just tired. Tired of trying. Tired of resetting. Tired of believing in progress only to find yourself circling back to the same stuck place.

It’s not that you don’t want to grow. You’re just running low on belief, motivation, and patience.

If that’s you, you’re not broken. You’re just human. And you’re not alone.

First: You’re Not Lazy, You’re Just Tired

Let’s get this one out of the way.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, avoidant, unmotivated, or in a rut, don’t rush to call it laziness. That word gets thrown around too easily, especially when we’re carrying invisible weight.

Burnout. Disappointment. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Feeling like every attempt ends up in “meh” territory.

What you’re feeling isn’t laziness. It’s exhaustion from trying while stuck in the same frame of mind.

A growth mindset isn’t just positive thinking. It’s a practice of how we frame, respond to, and believe in our capacity to evolve.

Why You Might Feel Stuck, Even When You’re Smart, Capable, and Doing “The Work”

Because you’re still…

Trying to think your way out of patterns that require action.
Waiting to feel confident before you take the leap.
Carrying beliefs about yourself that were never yours to begin with.
Judging yourself for not being further along.

It’s not that you’re incapable. It’s that you’ve been reinforcing a mindset built on survival, perfectionism, or past pain.

The result? You shrink your goals to match your mood. You protect your ego by avoiding risk. And you wait, quietly, for the spark to come back.

So… How Do You Shift? Especially When You’re Just. So. Tired?

Here’s the good news: You don’t need a breakthrough. You just need a shift. And shifts can start small.

Let’s start with how to build a growth mindset that meets you where you are, not where everyone says you should be.

12 Ways to Build a Growth Mindset, Even When You’re Low on Fuel

Start asking: “What’s the smallest next move I can make?” Not the best move. Not the right one. Just the next small one.
Track effort, not just outcomes. Did you try something hard? Speak up? Show up? That counts.
Catch the fixed mindset phrases in your head, and rewrite them. Try this exercise: Grab a piece of paper and write down all the things you’ve been telling yourself: “I’m not good at that.” “I don’t have the experience.” “This will never work.” Then next to each one, rewrite it as a growth mindset sentence: “I’m still learning how to do this.” “I’m figuring it out.” “Every attempt teaches me something.” You’re training your brain to think differently.
Reflect on past pivots. When did you grow the most in your life? What helped you move through that time? What lessons can you reapply?
Consume with intention. Listen to podcasts, watch videos, or read books that challenge your thinking and open up new mental paths, not just motivate you for 5 minutes.
Start something without needing to finish it. Open the file. Sketch the idea. Draft the caption. You’re just showing your brain that you can start.
Say something out loud that you’ve only ever said in your head. Whether it’s to a friend, a coach, or your journal, naming the fear disarms it.
Reframe failure as data. Don’t say “I failed.” Say “That approach didn’t work, and now I know what to tweak.”
Surround yourself with people who speak possibility. Join spaces where growth is normal. Leave the ones that keep you playing small.
Find a coach, therapist, or mentor. Someone to hold the mirror, ask better questions, and help you move, especially when your own belief wavers.
Write a letter to your past self. Give them some credit. Thank them for surviving. Remind them of how far you’ve come. Then let that version of you cheer you on from here.
Challenge yourself to do one thing that scares you every day, for 30 days. It doesn’t have to be huge, but it must stretch you. Text the person. Post the idea. Ask the question. Bonus: Journal how you felt before and after. Find an accountability partner. Or make it public, document your journey online. The magic is in the consistency.

Growth Doesn’t Always Look Like Hustle

Sometimes it looks like rest. Sometimes it looks like unlearning. Sometimes it looks like pausing the pressure and choosing curiosity instead.

If your growth mindset feels shaky right now, it’s okay. You’re not regressing. You’re recalibrating. Keep showing up. Keep challenging the old thoughts. Keep doing the next small thing.

You’re not stuck. You’re just at the edge of something different.

Before We Wrap This, Let’s pause here for a gut-check.

Do You Actually Have a Growth Mindset? Because saying you have a growth mindset and actually operating from one? Two very different things.

Sometimes, a fixed mindset doesn’t shout. It whispers in the little ways we react, resist, or avoid. So if you’ve caught yourself saying or doing things like this, it might be time to take a closer look.

Common Signs You Might Be Stuck in a Fixed Mindset (Without Realizing It)

“Oh no no no, that’s not for me, I could never do that.” (Why not? Who told you that?)
“Oh my goodness, you’re amazing at this, I’m terrible.” (Compliments don’t need self-deprecation.)
You brush off feedback or get instantly defensive. (Not everything is a personal attack. Sometimes it’s a growth opportunity.)
You take every critique as a hit to your personality. (“They think I’m not good enough,” instead of “That’s something I can improve.”)
You struggle to say “I don’t know” or ask for help. (Growth starts when we admit we’re still learning.)
You pretend you did it all alone, even when someone supported you. (Acknowledging others doesn’t make you smaller, it makes you wiser.)
You roll your eyes at new things people are doing. (Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s silly.)
You’re great at what you do, but you haven’t updated your knowledge in years. (Comfort ≠ mastery. Expertise evolves.)
You get praise in your current role, so you avoid trying anything that might make you feel like a beginner again. (That fear of looking “less than”? Fixed mindset in disguise.)
You feel reluctant to compliment someone you think you’re “better than.” (Especially when they’re doing something new, bold, or creative. You might say something nice on the surface, but deep down you don’t mean it, or you feel threatened. That’s not confidence. That’s comparison rooted in fear.)

Here’s the truth:

A growth mindset isn’t just about being positive or ambitious. It’s about being willing to look at the parts of yourself that still resist growth, and working on those.

And the best part? Once you see it, you can start shifting it. Start with curiosity. Then make a move.

“You’re not lazy. You’re tired. And you’re allowed to start again gently.” — Every burned-out believer who’s still showing up

Growth isn’t a grind. It’s not about always pushing, forcing, or climbing. Sometimes growth is resting. Reframing. Sometimes it’s just choosing not to give up, even when you don’t feel “motivated.”

This isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about staying curious, staying in motion, and staying kind to yourself when the fire dims.

Stop waiting for the spark. Start moving toward it.

🤔 What’s one tiny shift you’ll make this week, not to be better, but to feel more like you again?

📌 Know someone who’s done with the hustle but still wants to grow? Share this. We’re allowed to take the scenic route.

♻️ If this gave you breath, or belief, or a better lens, pass it on. Some of us need a softer path to progress.

If this hit home and you think its’ time to start doing thing differently, let’s talk and if you enjoyed this piece, you’ll love our weekly Wednesday drop, real, bold, unfiltered, practical and actionable conversations you didn’t know you need it, straight to your inbox. Sign Up Today

How to Build a Growth Mindset When You're Tired of Trying