Instead of looping over the same pathway again and over, this approach appears to foster the formation of new brain pathways, generating new connections that were not present the day before. Brains that have been taught to think in this way learn new knowledge considerably faster. They are called "nimble" or "plastic" brains. A person with a growth mindset believes that his abilities can be improved by learning new techniques or strategies, and taking advantage of opportunities that come his way. He doesn't see his personality as something fixed but rather as something that can be changed through hard work and motivation. In other words, he has a growth mindset. Studies have shown that people with growth mindsets tend to make more progress in life than those who believe they're born with certain talents or abilities. They also encounter fewer problems moving forward because nothing stands in their way. Perhaps most important, having a growth mindset helps them avoid giving up when things get difficult or frustrating. People with growth mindsets don't feel compelled to explain away failures or mistakes using excuses or reasons. Instead, they look at what they've done wrong and use that information to improve themselves for future successes. In other words, they accept responsibility for their actions but don't feel the need to blame others for them either.