Why Mindset Matters: How a Growth Mindset Can Transform Your Voice
Let me tell you something that might just change the way you think about singing — or any performance skill, really:
Your voice is not fixed.
Not your tone. Not your range. Not your ability to match pitch.
None of it.
And yet, so many of us walk around believing the opposite:
“I just wasn’t born with a good voice.”
“I can’t hit high notes.”
“I’ll never sound like them.”
“I’m just not a natural singer.”
These beliefs don’t come out of nowhere. They’re the product of what psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck calls a fixed mindset — the belief that our abilities are static and unchangeable.
💡 But what if your voice isn’t fixed? What if it’s trainable — like a muscle?
That’s where growth mindset comes in.
🧠 Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: A Quick Primer
Dr. Dweck coined the term growth mindset to describe the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed through effort, strategy, and support — rather than being set in stone.
In other words:
People with a fixed mindset avoid challenges, give up easily, and see mistakes as proof that they’re “not good enough.”
People with a growth mindset embrace challenges, view mistakes as feedback, and believe that effort is the path to mastery.
And here's the kicker:
The voice — like the brain — grows with use.
The way you think about your voice shapes how you train your voice… which directly affects how you use your voice.
🎶 How Growth Mindset Impacts Singing & Performance
I’ve seen it again and again with my students.
When someone truly believes their voice can change — they practice differently, show up differently, and progress faster.
Here’s how growth mindset shows up in real vocal work:
Fixed MindsetGrowth Mindset“I can't sing high notes.”“I can learn to sing high notes with the right technique.”“I’m not good at performing.”“Performing is a skill I can practice and get better at.”“I always mess up.”“Every mistake is a chance to grow.”“My voice just sounds bad.”“I’m learning how to work with my unique sound.”
🎤 My Own Story: From Vocal Struggles to Vocal Freedom
When I first started singing seriously, I carried a lot of vocal trauma.
I’d been silenced, shamed, and told my voice was “too much, too big, too loud.”
I struggled with vocal fatigue, muscular tension dysphonia, and crippling stage fright.
I studied voice for 10 years, still feeling stuck and confused about my technique, and eventually hit a massive brick wall.
That brick wall happened to be my nervous system — and a fixed mindset about my singing voice.
In 2019, I almost quit music altogether, thinking I just wasn’t cut out to be a professional singer.
But that was my fixed mindset talking.
Once I started to explore my voice through the lens of healing and curiosity — learning how to regulate my nervous system, work with my body, gently replace old unhelpful habits with new ones, and try again without self-judgment — I began to understand something crucial:
Your voice isn’t just an instrument. It’s a reflection of your mindset, your nervous system, & your beliefs.
Change those, and the voice transforms.
🧘🏽♀️ Growth Mindset in Action: What It Looks Like
You celebrate tiny wins. Hitting that one clean note? That’s growth.
You show up even when it feels messy. Because learning to sing isn’t about perfection — it’s about consistency.
You stop comparing your voice to others. Because your voice isn’t supposed to sound like anyone else’s.
You reframe critique as information. Feedback becomes fuel, not failure.
You reframe mistakes as learning opportunities. Every misstep is just data — a step closer to the win.
You say “not yet” instead of “never.” That one shift alone can change your entire trajectory.
🔁 It’s Not Just About Singing
If you can shift your mindset in the practice room, you’ll start to shift it everywhere:
In job interviews
On stage
In difficult conversations
In relationships
In how you speak up and take up space in the world
That’s the magic of voice work.
It’s never just about singing.
It’s about becoming who you really are.
✨ You Can Change
Your voice is alive.
It responds to attention, curiosity, and care.
You can sing. You can grow.
You can sound better than you ever imagined.
And it starts by believing that change is possible.
“Becoming is better than being.” — Dr. Carol Dweck
🌿 Ready to do this work together?
If you're ready to explore what's actually possible for your voice — with support, tools, and a coach who gets it — I'm here.
At Wylde Voices, I combine science-based vocal training, nervous system regulation, and holistic mindset tools to help you reclaim your voice from the inside out.
Whether you're a beginner, a returning singer, or a professional who’s hit a wall, there's a way forward.
Let’s find it together.
👉 Explore ways to work with me here Or want to learn more? 👉 Book a discovery session here