How to Enter the Arena

How do we enter the arena? This is a follow up from my "Enter the Arena" writeup. From what I have realized the key is participation. Are we participating in what we say we want to achieve or are we in the never ending cycle of preparing, researching, thinking, reading etc. Basically are we doing the thing that we said we were going to do? Are we allowing ourselves to create some friction in reality that has to lead to an outcome and the requires effort?

While there are distractions that can get in the way of us entering the arena, there are also mindsets and attitudes that hinder us as well.

I have been reading a lot about a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and I believe those play a role in entering the arena as well. Based on my understanding a fixed mindset is one in which one can not improve, adapt, or change. It is what is as a state of being or an identity. A growth mindset is one on which one can grow, change, learn more and adapt. In a growth mindset is is more related to effort than a predetermined state that can not be changed or is permanent. To enter the arena a growth mindset is better than a fixed mindset.

Since a fixed mindset is more of a permanent state or identity it is hard to enter the arena repeatedly because any failure is taken as a direct reflection of who you are. If your identity is at risk you will limit what you do that may potentially jeopardize that. Since in a fixed mindset you think the outcome is a direct reflection of who you are, if you can not guarantee the outcome you want you may not even attempt. If being in the arena is a threat to your identity then why would you bother to enter?