Vidita Mishra, Cultural Secretary, Class IX, Laurels International School
“In this reflective piece, Vidita explores how the “filters” of our mind shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us. With simple metaphors, real-life examples, and youthful insight, she reminds us that the lens we choose each day defines our journey of growth.“-P.T.
Sometimes, our thoughts are like quiet rivers — shaping the land of our future long before we realise it. And today, let’s talk about that invisible current — our mindset, the way we choose to see the world.
Your mindset acts like an invisible filter that decides how you interpret life — its problems, its possibilities, and its people. It quietly guides how we think, react, and grow. This filter operates through three powerful dimensions that colour the way we live our lives.
1. Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset
Imagine standing in a garden. One person counts how few flowers have bloomed; another smiles, seeing how many more can still grow. That’s the difference between a scarcity and an abundance mindset.
A scarcity mindset believes that resources are limited — time, success, happiness — and that if someone else wins, we lose. It whispers, “There’s not enough for everyone.” When a friend wins a prize, a person with a scarcity mindset feels threatened, as though that opportunity is now gone forever.
An abundance mindset believes the opposite. It says, “There’s always room to grow.” It encourages us to celebrate others and learn from them instead of comparing ourselves. The person with an abundance mindset congratulates the winner and asks, “How did you do it?” — believing that success can be shared and learned from.
When we live with abundance, we stop counting what’s missing and start noticing what’s possible. Developing critical thinking skills helps us recognise these mental filters and see growth where we once saw limits.
2. Negative vs. Positive Mindset
After a storm, some people see only broken branches. Others breathe in the fresh air and notice how the sky looks clearer. A negative mindset expects the worst — it focuses on mistakes, fears, and “what ifs.” When a project is rejected, a negative thinker might say, “I always fail at everything; maybe I should stop trying.”
A positive mindset, however, believes that setbacks are lessons in disguise. The same rejection becomes a lesson — a step toward understanding what to improve next time. Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring pain; it means trusting that even pain can teach us something valuable.
Think of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who failed his first Air Force pilot test but didn’t give up. That failure became part of the story that made him one of India’s most inspiring leaders. Positivity is not pretending the storm isn’t there — it’s believing that sunshine will follow. Practising positive discipline helps us respond calmly and consciously, even when life tests our patience.
3. Closed vs. Open Mindset
A closed mind is like a locked window — safe, but airless. It doesn’t let new ideas in because it fears being wrong. When shown a fact that challenges their belief, a closed-minded person might say, “That can’t be true,” instead of checking the source.
An open mindset, on the other hand, is curious. It listens, questions, and adapts. It welcomes feedback, even when it stings, and sees disagreement as a chance to learn something new. The open-minded person says, “That’s interesting — what am I missing?”
History’s greatest thinkers — from Galileo to Malala — dared to stay open-minded. That’s how they changed the world: not by knowing everything, but by never stopping their search to understand.
The Choice Is Ours
Every day, we get to choose our filters: Scarcity or Abundance, Negative or Positive, Closed or Open. These choices decide how we treat others, how we face challenges, and how brightly we dream.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Maybe believing in our dreams begins with believing in our own thoughts — choosing hope instead of fear, learning instead of comparing, and curiosity instead of pride.
Our mind is like a garden. If we let it run wild, weeds of doubt and anger will grow. But if we care for it daily — with gratitude, optimism, and openness — it will bloom beautifully.
As James Allen wisely wrote, “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild.”
So, choose your filters carefully — because the moment you guide your thoughts, you begin to guide your life. And that’s when you truly take control — before the world tries to do it for you.
