Gut feelings. Sitious behaviours. Questionable observations.

There are many mindsets we can take on as curious beings as we clutch at success; a term so ambiguous, so fragile, it makes all these feelings interlock and bind as we make our way through the fast-paced media landscape. Taken from this week’s reading, Howard Gardner had mused at the key features as the ideas of the mind – or mindset – in order to achieve success. With five mindsets to pick from, the choices were limiting and foolish, but Gardner offers a way of thinking (or rationalising) that can be useful to apply from afar. These are:

• The Disciplined Mind: where an individual can train to perfect a skill, and involves determination and persistence to continue;

• The Synthesised Mind: where individuals connect and combine different pieces of information to for seamless transactional responses;

• The Creating Mind: where information comes in form of new ideas and breakthroughs, the individual naturally seeking to challenge the issue with their unique outlook;

• The Respectful Mind: where immediate responses are empathetic, accepting and willing to relate and consider the needs of others demands;

• The Ethical Mind: where individuals are aware of how their actions might impact other people, putting these ethics first and considering how they will serve the society they are apart of.

Although these minds are born from computational capabilities, Gardner creates a fluid interpretation of many of the skills we possess that cannot be taught through a system. From interpersonal skills, humanistic intelligence and the awareness of tacit knowledge; the minds Gardner shares are one of policy-makers, with good reflection on how the education system can create only a certain level of attitudes and willingness. While I take this reading just as I would my Scorpip horoscope, there’s comfort in conditioning yourself to a state of mind that works best for you. For me personally, 2016 has allowed me to exercise my creative mind whilst also extrapolating my flaws so that I can change and better myself. While I wouldn’t characterise myself to fit his archetype perfectly, there’s value in Gardner’s ideals – even if, well, they’re hardly perfect.