Then you need the Renewed Mindset® from the Apostle Paul!
(Your mileage may vary. Conditions apply. Operators are standing by. Batteries not included.)
Your Mindset is one of the most significant factors that determines success or failure in anything you try to do. According to Paul in Romans 12:1-2, there are two basic Mindsets: the World Mindset and the Renewed Mindset®.
By setting your mind to follow these 5 simple steps of the Renewed Mindset® methodology, you will learn that you can not only grow in character and abilities, but that God expects that you will! He designed you that way!
Paul says more than once that the power of God cannot be fully unleashed through a person until their mind is renewed; until they let go of their old ways and offer themselves as a living sacrifice to God. But that’s not all! The Greek word for “renew”, anakainoó, can also be translated as “to move from one stage to a higher, more developed one.” With a Renewed Mindset®, God will help you recognize that it’s possible to learn, improve, and develop new abilities. You’ll stop worrying so much about failure and realize that “success” means that you learned something – even if the outcome wasn’t perfect. After all, FAIL simply is an acrostic for First Attempt In Learning. | Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. |
Method #1: How to View Failure
Those with a World Mindset view failure as unavoidable and feel powerless to stop it from happening. Having little to no control over it, they believe there is nothing to be gained from failures and hopeless situations.
On the other hand, with the Renewed Mindset® you understand that failure is temporary. You perform an honest assessment of the challenge and look for specific ways to improve. In other words, you identify your mistakes or deficiencies so you can succeed in the future.
The World Mindset teaches you to go around obstacles or avoid uncomfortable situations. Doing so, however, means that you will miss out on a learning opportunity. How can you get better if you never put your abilities to the test?
However, quizzers with the Renewed Mindset® embrace being in these situations and look forward to overcoming obstacles. You will actually enjoy competing against those Memory Verse quizzers who seem to have the psychic ability to read the Quizmaster’s mind. In fact, your obstacles may be your own teammates: Everyone has a different strategy or strength. Having a Renewed Mindset® means you aren’t jealous and resentful of their ability. Rather, you decide to put in extra effort to improve where needed to benefit the team.
Method #3: How to View Effort Those with the World Mindset consider extra effort as worthless. No matter how much effort they put in to study, it doesn’t seem to matter. Their first thought is “I’m just not good at this, so why even try?” They are looking for immediate, significant results with minimal effort. But with the Renewed Mindset®, Paul clearly suggests in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 that effort is indeed worthwhile. Even if improvements are small and over time, you see that you have direct control of the outcome with additional effort. As it turns out, if you approach life with a Renewed Mindset®, you can be good at things. It just takes a lot of practice and a willingness to make mistakes. | Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. |
The World Mindset crowd perceives all criticism – even constructive criticism - as a personal attack on their abilities. It kills their progress and discourages them from trying again.
That’s why you need the Renewed Mindset®! You are open to feedback. You listen and learn from criticism. You see it as a help and guidance for whey you try again. You even ask for it.
Method #5: How You View the Success of Others
If you feel threatened by success of others, you suffer from the World Mindset. People with this condition avoid situations where others will be more successful. They prefer not to quiz at the more competitive level, choosing instead to remain where there is little risk of being outperformed. In doing so, they aren’t being encouraged to try something new or to improve.
But if you have the Renewed Mindset®, you aren’t threatened by the success of others – you are inspired by it! You learn from others’ success. In fact, you look to put yourself in challenging situations so you can learn from others. And if you happen to fail, you learn from it (Method #1), discover how to overcome your obstacles (Method #2), put in more effort (Method #3) and seek feedback on your progress (Method #4).
After all, FAIL simply is an acrostic for: First Attempt In Learning.
The World Mindset crowd believes that intelligence, character, and talents are static. This leads to a desire to look smart and therefore a tendency to avoid challenges, give up early, see effort as fruitless, ignore useful feedback, and feel threatened by the success of others. They plateau early and achieve less than the full potential God has planned for their lives, let alone quizzing.
Human beings are designed by God to adapt and grow. It’s encouraging to think that you can learn to play the guitar, write a book, or be a better Bible Quizzer. You could also become a less anxious, less angry, more compassionate person by giving up the World’s Mindset and allow God to transform you as you continue to study and follow His Word. Then, with a Renewed Mindset®, you will be walking in newness of life – with new patterns, new behaviors, and new thoughts!
So don’t hesitate. Act now! Operators are standing by…