In moments of self-reflection, we can often find ourselves between two different forces within us. There’s the part of us that feels fear, doubt, and uncertainty—the part that wonders whether we’ll overcome the obstacles we’re facing. This is the struggler.
But there’s also another part—the part that knows we are capable of rising to the challenge. This is the part of us that’s been tested before and has come out stronger. This is the warrior.
Both the struggler and the warrior exist within us, and both are essential. The key to growth is not in rejecting one part for the other but in understanding that they coexist to help us learn and grow. By adopting a growth mindset, we realize that the struggler is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign that we’re in the process of growth.
The Struggler: Acknowledging the Power of Effort
In a world that values immediate success and strength, admitting we are struggling can feel like we’re failing. But the struggler is part of the learning process. When we struggle, it means we’re pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone, trying to master something we haven’t yet mastered.
The struggler reminds us that effort is not a sign of inadequacy, but a path to growth. Struggling is how we learn and develop new skills. The fear, doubt, and insecurity we feel are simply signals that we are engaging with something meaningful. Instead of resisting these emotions, what if we embraced them? What if we honored the struggle as part of the process of becoming more capable?
The Warrior: Harnessing the Power of Persistence
While the struggler helps us identify the areas where we need to grow, the warrior is the part of us that knows we can improve through effort and persistence. The warrior believes that even though the road is difficult, we can develop the skills, resilience, and confidence we need to succeed.
The warrior doesn’t suppress the struggler but works alongside her. With a growth mindset, we understand that success doesn’t come from being fearless—it comes from learning to act in the face of fear. The warrior embodies this belief in persistence. Growth is not about being perfect; it’s about taking consistent steps forward, even when it’s hard.
Creating Space for Both: The Growth Mindset in Action
Rather than seeing these two parts of ourselves—the struggler and the warrior—as conflicting forces, what if we embraced both? This is the essence of the growth mindset: the understanding that we are not fixed in our abilities or characteristics, but capable of learning and evolving.
In the space where both the struggler and the warrior coexist, we find true growth. It’s in this tension that we build resilience, increase our capabilities, and ultimately grow into stronger, more capable individuals. Struggle is not an obstacle to success—it’s a stepping stone.
Embracing the Process: Growth Takes Time
In her ground-breaking book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Stanford psychologist and researcher, Carol Dweck, found that those who embrace the process of learning, including its challenges, are more likely to succeed in the long run. Growth happens when we lean into the struggle, trusting that the warrior within us will guide us through.
The struggler reminds us that we care, that something is at stake. The warrior reminds us that we are capable of learning and overcoming. Together, they form the foundation of a growth mindset. Success comes not from avoiding struggle, but from persevering through it.
Final Reflection: Growth Is a Journey
The growth mindset teaches us that both struggle and resilience are essential to becoming our best selves. The struggler needs patience and compassion, while the warrior needs belief and persistence. When we nurture both parts of ourselves, we open the door to continuous learning and growth.
We don’t have to choose between the struggler and the warrior. We can be both, because both are part of our journey toward mastery. By embracing the full range of our human experience—our doubts and our strengths—we empower ourselves to learn, grow, and thrive.
Wherever you are in your journey, remember this: your capacity for growth is limitless. You are not fixed in your abilities or characteristics. With effort, perseverance, and a growth mindset, you can continue to evolve. This is the true power of embracing both the struggler and the warrior.
Integrate the Learning: Free Downloadable Worksheet
If this post resonated with you and you’d like to take this work deeper, I’ve designed a free downloadable worksheet to help you integrate these insights into your daily life.
This worksheet includes:
- Reflection prompts to help you recognize both the struggler and the warrior within yourself.
- Step-by-step exercises to guide you in reframing challenges, fostering self-compassion, and embracing a growth mindset.
- Actionable tools to help you take small, deliberate steps toward your goals, with patience for the struggler and persistence from the warrior.
You might also consider printing the worksheet and keeping it in a personal growth binder, so you can track your journey and refer back to the work you’ve done as you continue to grow.
[Download your worksheet here]
Book Recommendation: Mindset by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
This post was deeply influenced by the work of renowned Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, Ph.D., and her widely acclaimed book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Mindset is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the two types of mindsets—growth and fixed—and how choosing the path of a growth mindset can transform your life. To emphasize the importance of this book, here’s an excerpt from Chapter 1:
“For thirty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value. How does this happen? How can a simple belief have the power to transform your psychology and, as a result, your life?”
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