Negative-Maintaining Growth Mindset: How Innately Positive Individuals Construct a Superior Problem-Solving Brain in the Real World

This paper proposes the Negative-Maintaining Growth Mindset (NM-GM) Model, an integrative framework that extends Carol S. Dweck’s growth mindset theory. Drawing on the author’s introspective analysis, the model illustrates how individuals with an innately extreme positive disposition can develop a robust problem-solving architecture by intentionally maintaining negative awareness and rapidly converting it into seeds of possibility. The author describes a personal trajectory beginning with pure positivity in kindergarten, followed by a profound cultural shock upon entering elementary school that prompted the installation of a negative-detection circuit as an adaptive strategy. This process is further discussed in relation to potential neurodivergent traits, particularly those associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), such as literal interpretation and surface-level focus. The NM-GM Model consists of three recursive stages—Negative Detection, Positive Reappraisal & Conversion, and Growth Action—supported by repeated mental simulation training. The model suggests that this balanced cognitive style offers significant advantages in uncertain environments, including the AI era. Theoretical contributions, practical implications for education and mental health, and future research directions are discussed. Ultimately, the paper argues that humanity’s inherent creativity and reflective capacity enable us to transform challenges into collective progress. (