The Power of Growth Mindset

Have you heard of growth mindset?

Growth mindset is a belief that our abilities and talents can be continuously improved through hard work, learning, and reflection. This mindset encourages individuals to pursue challenges, accept failure, and seek opportunities to learn from mistakes. The core belief of growth mindset is that abilities are not fixed, but can be developed and improved through sustained effort and learning.

The limitations of fixed mindset

Before we embark on the journey to shift to growth mindset, let us first understand fixed mindset. It is a belief that our abilities are fixed and unchangeable, which limits our growth and development.

The following examples will help to clarify the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset:

Growth mindset: Imagine a student named Ming who has growth mindset. He believes that his abilities can be continuously improved through hard work and learning. When he faces a difficult math problem, he will actively explore solutions and seek help from others to learn from his mistakes. For Ming, challenges and failures are opportunities for growth, and he will never give up easily. Ming often participates in math competitions and discussion groups, and he is always willing to share knowledge and experiences, which gives him a sense of growth and satisfaction. He is passionate about learning and is full of confidence, which has led to his outstanding achievements in mathematics.

Fixed mindset: Now, let us switch scenes and meet another student named Hua, who has fixed mindset. She believes that abilities are fixed and cannot be changed through effort. When Hua faces a difficult math problem, she feels frustrated and helpless. She is afraid of challenges and risks, and worries about making mistakes and failing. Hua lacks confidence in her abilities, so she is reluctant to participate in competitions or discussion groups, for fear that her weaknesses will be exposed. This mindset limits her learning and growth, and severely hinders her ability to reach her full potential.

The power of growth mindset

Growth mindset has been widely advocated in the fields of education and personal development. It can help students build confidence, encourage them to pursue higher academic achievements, and develop problem-solving skills. In addition, growth mindset can help improve individuals’ resilience to setbacks, as it emphasizes that challenges and failures are a part of growth, rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Habits for developing growth mindset

To shift to growth mindset, we can start by cultivating the following habits and beliefs:
• Accept challenges: Don’t be afraid of facing difficulties or challenges, and believe that you can overcome them through hard work.
• Be actively learning: Continuously learn new knowledge and skills, and seek opportunities to continuously improve yourself.
• Embrace failure: See failure as an opportunity to learn, learn from it, and don’t be discouraged by failure.
• Build self-confidence: Believe in your potential, and believe that hard work and learning can lead to success.
• Seek help: Don’t be afraid to seek help and guidance from others, and share knowledge and experiences with others.

In conclusion, growth mindset is a powerful mindset that can help us achieve greater success, reach our full potential, and build healthier learning and lifestyle. 

It’s that time of year again for the annual University of Macau Mental Health Public Speaking Contest! The theme for the second edition this year is “Mental Health is a universal human right”, and we are looking forward to your wonderful story!

Highlights from last year’s competition.

In this fast-paced society, we often neglect our mental health, but every one of us deserves it!

Perhaps you have dreams of standing on stage, or maybe you have knowledge and stories about mental health that you want to share with more people. If so, this competition is designed for you.

The 2^nd University of Macau Mental Health Public Speaking Contest aims to raise students’ awareness of mental health and their understanding of related knowledge and to establish a positive and healthy campus culture.

Our competition format is simple and easy to understand. Participants only need to upload a three-minute video speech, freely expressing themselves on the theme ” Mental Health is a universal human right “. There is a chance to advance to the finals, where a five-minute speech will be given in person. Most importantly, we have prepared a variety of prizes for participants, including the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up, as well as the Most Popular Award, Best Content Award, and Best Performance Award, among other exciting awards!

By signing up for the competition now, you can participate in professional pre-competition speech training. For those who successfully advance to the finals, there will be professional speech mentors to guide you personally, helping you better prepare for the competition and enhance your speech skills.

Don’t just be moved, take action! Join us now, highlight your speech talent, and bring more attention to mental health, together building a healthy campus culture!

Preliminary submission dates:

September 1, 2023 – October 05, 2023

Finals date:

October 26, 2023, 19:30

Finals venue:

E31 Theater

For registration and more competition details, please click the button below. We look forward to your participation!

※This contest’s language is use by Mandarin/Cantonese 

It’s that time of year again for the annual University of Macau Mental Health Public Speaking Contest! The theme for the second edition this year is “Mental Health is a universal human right”, and we are looking forward to your wonderful story!

Highlights from last year’s competition.

In this fast-paced society, we often neglect our mental health, but every one of us deserves it!

Perhaps you have dreams of standing on stage, or maybe you have knowledge and stories about mental health that you want to share with more people. If so, this competition is designed for you.

The 2^nd University of Macau Mental Health Public Speaking Contest aims to raise students’ awareness of mental health and their understanding of related knowledge and to establish a positive and healthy campus culture.

Our competition format is simple and easy to understand. Participants only need to upload a three-minute video speech, freely expressing themselves on the theme ” Mental Health is a universal human right “. There is a chance to advance to the finals, where a five-minute speech will be given in person. Most importantly, we have prepared a variety of prizes for participants, including the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up, as well as the Most Popular Award, Best Content Award, and Best Performance Award, among other exciting awards!

By signing up for the competition now, you can participate in professional pre-competition speech training. For those who successfully advance to the finals, there will be professional speech mentors to guide you personally, helping you better prepare for the competition and enhance your speech skills.

Don’t just be moved, take action! Join us now, highlight your speech talent, and bring more attention to mental health, together building a healthy campus culture!

Preliminary submission dates:

September 1, 2023 – October 05, 2023

Finals date:

October 26, 2023, 19:30

Finals venue:

E31 Theater

For registration and more competition details, please click the button below. We look forward to your participation!

※This contest’s language is use by Mandarin/Cantonese 

It’s that time of year again for the annual University of Macau Mental Health Public Speaking Contest! The theme for the second edition this year is “Mental Health is a universal human right”, and we are looking forward to your wonderful story!

Highlights from last year’s competition.

In this fast-paced society, we often neglect our mental health, but every one of us deserves it!

Perhaps you have dreams of standing on stage, or maybe you have knowledge and stories about mental health that you want to share with more people. If so, this competition is designed for you.

The 2^nd University of Macau Mental Health Public Speaking Contest aims to raise students’ awareness of mental health and their understanding of related knowledge and to establish a positive and healthy campus culture.

Our competition format is simple and easy to understand. Participants only need to upload a three-minute video speech, freely expressing themselves on the theme ” Mental Health is a universal human right “. There is a chance to advance to the finals, where a five-minute speech will be given in person. Most importantly, we have prepared a variety of prizes for participants, including the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up, as well as the Most Popular Award, Best Content Award, and Best Performance Award, among other exciting awards!

By signing up for the competition now, you can participate in professional pre-competition speech training. For those who successfully advance to the finals, there will be professional speech mentors to guide you personally, helping you better prepare for the competition and enhance your speech skills.

Don’t just be moved, take action! Join us now, highlight your speech talent, and bring more attention to mental health, together building a healthy campus culture!

Preliminary submission dates:

September 1, 2023 – October 05, 2023

Finals date:

October 26, 2023, 19:30

Finals venue:

E31 Theater

For registration and more competition details, please click the button below. We look forward to your participation!

※This contest’s language is use by Mandarin/Cantonese 

Five tips for you to overcome back-to-school anxiety

After a joyous and leisurely summer vacation, we have finally entered the back-to-school season. For university students, this season is both exciting and filled with challenges. However, it can also bring about feelings of anxiety, which may stem from academic pressures, adapting to new environments, and changes in social lives. Anxiety is a natural stress response, but excessive anxiety can have negative effects on learning and daily life. Here are some strategies to help university students better cope with stress and adapt to this new stage.

1. Do not easily give up

When faced with difficulties, do not readily surrender. Seek solutions to problems and seek help and support. Believe in your abilities, for you can overcome any challenge. Also, remember that your worth is not solely determined by the numbers on your transcript. What matters is your effort, perseverance, and growth. Believe in your potential, for you can achieve greatness.

2. Set realistic expectations

Set reasonable goals and expectations, ensuring that they are achievable and avoiding the pursuit of perfection. Unrealistic goals can lead to feelings of defeat. Additionally, avoid excessive comparison with others and view comparison as motivation. Comparison can help us recognize our own needs, thus enabling us to establish more specific goals.

3. Learn time management

Acquire effective time management skills and allocate study and rest time appropriately. This helps reduce academic pressure and enhances learning efficiency. When you can make full use of your time, you will find yourself with more time to pursue interests and enjoyments, thereby achieving a balanced life.

4. Seek social support

Seeking support and engaging in communication is another important strategy for coping with anxiety. Sharing your worries with family, friends, or the university counselling service can alleviate the negative impact of anxiety and stress. Additionally, building healthy social relationships can provide emotional support and encouragement, aiding in your adaptation to the new environment.

5. Cultivate healthy habits

Physical and mental health are interconnected. Maintaining healthy habits such as proper diet, exercise, sleep, and relaxation can help you better cope with stress and anxiety. Exercise, meditation, and breathing exercises are effective relaxation techniques that can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

The back-to-school season may bring about stress and anxiety, but it is also a new beginning filled with hope and opportunities. By learning stress management techniques and establishing good social and lifestyle habits, you will be better equipped to adapt to the new environment and achieve your goals and dreams. If you need psychological counselling, our counsellors can provide appropriate help.