Bravely Connected

One of the quiet ways our minds shape our lives is through what we choose to notice. Many of us unknowingly live from a mindset that focuses on what we lack—what we haven’t accomplished yet, what skills we don’t have, or where we feel we are falling short. This mindset is often called deficit thinking, and it has a powerful impact on our motivation, our performance, and even our sense of identity. This is something I’m navigating myself personally right now.

But the good news is that even a small shift in how we think can dramatically change how we move forward. Sometimes transformation doesn’t come through huge breakthroughs. Sometimes it begins with something much smaller—a 1% turn.

When Our Minds Focus on What We Lack

Deficit thinking puts our brains into a completely different space.

For example, imagine you are in a leadership position and you are learning new skills. As you grow, you might become very aware of all the things you don’t yet know how to do. When your focus stays on those gaps—what you’re missing or what you’re not good at yet—it can begin to shape how you show up.

Instead of feeling motivated to learn, you can start to feel discouraged or inadequate. Your performance can actually suffer because your mind is constantly highlighting what’s missing instead of recognizing what’s being built.

The same pattern shows up in school. When students constantly see only their weaknesses—where they struggle or where they feel behind—they can begin to believe that they are simply not capable. Over time, that belief can cause them to disengage and lose confidence.

The problem isn’t always the challenge itself. Often, it’s where our attention is directed.

The Power of Recognizing Growth

What changes everything is when we begin to recognize growth.

Instead of focusing solely on what we haven’t mastered yet, we can start noticing the skills we are developing and the progress we are making—even if it’s imperfect.

This shift can be even more powerful when others reflect it back to us.

When someone says, “I’ve noticed you’re improving at this,” or “I see that you’re building that skill,” it helps us see something we may have overlooked ourselves. Being seen in our growth encourages us to keep going.

Recognition fuels momentum.

How Deficit Thinking Shows Up in Everyday Life

Deficit thinking doesn’t just show up in work or school—it appears in everyday goals as well.

Take health and weight as an example. When someone believes nothing is changing—“I’m never losing any weight”—discouragement can take over. Eventually, the thought becomes: If nothing is working, why bother?

At that point, it becomes easy to abandon the habits that were helping.

But when we pause and look closer, the reality might be very different. Maybe someone is making healthy choices most of the time. Maybe they are doing 60% or even 80% of the things that support their goal.

That progress matters.

Instead of seeing failure, we can see partial success and an opportunity to make small adjustments.

The Transformational Power of Small Adjustments

Real change often happens through tiny shifts rather than dramatic transformations.

It’s the difference between trying to change everything at once and making small, consistent adjustments over time.

Think about saving money. If we believe we must save a huge amount all at once, the goal can feel overwhelming. But saving even a small amount regularly begins to move us forward.

These small changes—those 1% turns—might seem insignificant in the moment. But over time, they accumulate into meaningful progress.

Growth rarely happens overnight. It happens little by little.

Escaping the Trap of All-or-Nothing Thinking

Deficit thinking is often connected to all-or-nothing thinking.

This mindset tells us that if we can’t do something completely or perfectly, there is no point in trying at all.

It sounds like:

“If I can’t do the whole thing, I won’t start.”

But this thinking prevents movement. It dismisses the small steps that could gradually lead to success.

Starting Small Is Still Starting

Consider a goal like pursuing a master’s degree.

For me personally the thought of completing an entire masters feels overwhelming—especially financially. Deficit thinking tells me that if I can’t finish quickly, the goal is unrealistic.

But what if the first step was simply taking one course?

There is nothing wrong with slow progress. In fact, slow progress is still progress.

The real risk isn’t taking ten years to reach a goal.

The real risk is never beginning.

Noticing Growth Restores Motivation and Agency

When we begin noticing our growth—even the smallest signs of it—something powerful happens.

Our motivation returns.

Our hope increases.

And we regain something incredibly important: agency.

Agency is the belief that we have influence over our own growth and direction. It reminds us that we are not stuck—we are simply in process.

So take a moment to notice where you are learning.

Notice where you are growing.

Notice the strengths that are quietly developing within you.

Those small shifts matter more than you think.

Because sometimes the biggest changes in our lives begin with the smallest turns—just 1% at a time.