Page 361 - Total War on PTSD

psychology, posits that we should be living life with a growth-centered mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset. In short:
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
There are four key ways the growth mindset sets the foundation for healing and success, both in and out of the water. First, it helps us learn from setbacks. Individuals with a growth mindset accept challenges and continue to persevere in order to be successful. They face learning and challenges with an “I haven’t mastered this yet” attitude. Second, it makes it easier to avoid distraction. When you know that productive effort equals more success, it is much easier to stay on task. Third, it forces you to look continuously for new opportunities. When you utilize the growth mindset, you take every chance to learn, change, and experiment with new ideas.
Fear of failure ceases to hold you back. Finally, it helps to recognize and be inspired by the achievements of others. Instead of being competitive and jealous, let the success of others encourage you to work harder to improve your results.
FEAR OF THE WATER
This is of particular value when approaching Veterans with PTSD and anxiety who are unfamiliar with the water, and/or suffer from aquaphobia. To overcome aquaphobia or any other fear that paralyzes you, you must obtain competency and coping skills, both acquired by the proper application of the growth mindset.
Competency: The hard truth is that in order to conquer fear, you must face what you are afraid of. Avoiding your fear leads to a sense of failure, increased anxiety, and more belief in fixed abilities. Facing it, however, leads to confidence, empowerment, competency, and eventual mastery.[7] Physiologically, exposure creates nervous system habituation, the eventual subsiding of the physical fear response when exposed over time. Psychologically, confronting your fears creates a sense of
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