When Words Changed Brains
Rea,
Two groups of fifth graders faced the exact same puzzles. One group gave up quickly. The other group kept trying 50% longer and solved more puzzles. The only difference? A few simple words that changed how their brains worked.
Back in 1998, at Columbia University, researcher Carol Dweck split a group of fifth graders into two teams. Everyone solved the same simple puzzles. The only difference? The words she used to praise them. To half the students, she said “You must be really smart to solve these!” To the other half, she said “You must have worked hard to figure these out!”
That’s when the real test began. Dweck brought out harder puzzles. The “smart” group started to worry. When they got stuck, they thought it meant they weren’t really smart after all. Most gave up after just a few tries. But the “worked hard” group? They kept going 50% longer, trying new ways to solve each puzzle. They saw getting stuck as a chance to learn something new.
The results were clear. When offered new puzzles, 67% of the “smart” group picked easier ones to keep looking smart. But 92% of the “worked hard” group asked for harder ones - they knew challenges made them stronger.
This wasn’t just true for puzzles. Look at Taylor Swift - she wasn’t born hitting perfect high notes. She spent hours every day for years practicing, getting a little better each time. Simone Biles heard people say certain gymnastics moves were impossible. She fell down hundreds of times learning them. Now she does moves no one else can do.
Those fifth graders showed us something powerful about how our brains work. Being “smart” isn’t something you just are or aren’t - it’s something that grows, like a muscle getting stronger. And just like a muscle, it’s the challenges that make it grow. The words we use to talk about our abilities matter more than anyone knew. They can make us give up early or give us the strength to keep going when things get tough.
Here’s a simple way to make your brain stronger: When you think “I can’t do this,” add one small word: “yet.” That tiny word tells your brain this isn’t about being good or bad at something - it’s about growing and learning. And that makes all the difference.
Love, Abba
