Do successful people have something others don’t? It turns out they do. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) recently identified a key personality trait common among those with greater willpower-positive thinking. Those with a positive attitude have what the researchers call a "growth mindset," meaning they believe intelligence and skills can be developed through hard work, dedication, and effort — viewing obstacles as opportunities to grow and improve.What Was The Study?Willpower is the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. And there are good reasons to do so.For their research, published in Acta Psychologica, scientists studied people with high and low willpower. It involved over 1,500 participants ranging from ages 13 to 77. They explored the roles of passion, grit, and mindset in achieving personal goals. Researchers discovered that individuals with a positive mindset, known as a "growth mindset," tend to be more successful. People with this mindset believed that intelligence and skills could be developed through hard work, perseverance, and learning from obstacles. On the other hand, were people with a "fixed mindset" who believed their abilities and talents were static, leading to a tendency to avoid challenges and give up when faced with difficulty.ALSO READ: What Are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)? All You Need To KnowPower Of Growth MindsetThe study highlighted the importance of willpower in success, both personal and professional. Those who maintain a growth mindset were found to exhibit greater determination and passion. Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson, who led the research, noted that the most optimistic individuals showed significant differences in their levels of passion and perseverance compared to the more negative participants. He emphasized the need to understand what drives these positive or negative attitudes to help increase motivation and support long-term goal pursuit. He coined the term "getting the I CAN feeling," referring to the powerful impact of a belief in success.How To Cultivate A Growth Mindset?You can follow these steps to cultivate a growth mindset: Become self-aware. You must note what happens when you make a mistake or face an obstacle.Learn from others with a growth mindset. Talk to people, get their tips and feedback.Write down your goals, so you have a better chance of achieving them. Putting your thoughts on paper is essential. Prioritize these goals over focusing on your traits and skills, which is behavior characteristic of a fixed mindset.Accept new challenges. Also, remind yourself that all obstacles are opportunities to grow and learn.Change your outlook on failure, which is a chance to learn or discover something new.Be patient. Progress isn't linear. You should remember that regressing before progressing is part of the process.Celebrate the success of others, instead of getting envious. Also, ask them how they did it.Collect feedback from others. And use it to improve.Tell yourself that you may not be good at something yet. You just need more time and practice.ALSO READ: What Happens To Your Brain When You're In Love?