I love the show Bluey. If you’re not familiar, it’s an Australian kids’ show about a family of blue heeler dogs. Each 7-minute episode is a joy to watch, filled with clever writing and a warm-hearted spirit. The creators have done an incredible job bringing relatable family stories to life. If you have kids, they’ll love it—it’s wholesome, entertaining, joyful, and intentional.
One of my favourite episodes is called *Dragon*. In this episode, the show beautifully illustrates how to use positive reframing to shift into a growth mindset.
(Here’s the link to the episode—apologies to readers outside Australia, as this link may not work.)
Bluey: Dragon episode on ABC iView
The episode’s premise is simple: Bluey, the 6-year-old, asks her dad, Bandit, to help her draw. As they sit together, Bluey avoids drawing anything she finds challenging. Bandit shares that he once loved drawing cars and would draw them endlessly as a kid. But one day, a classmate told him his cars didn’t look real, and he never drew again.
Bluey’s mum, Chilli, then joins and reveals that she’s a fantastic artist, particularly good at drawing horses. She recalls a memory of drawing with her own mum, who once gave her constructive feedback, saying, “You’re right; it’s not very good. But it is pretty good for a 7-year-old. Keep going; you’ll get there one day.”
Bluey is now faced with two paths: one that involves quitting and avoiding growth, or another where she reframes the challenge, adjusts her perspective, and keeps trying.
This is a powerful example of positive reframing in action.
If you’re enjoying this article then you’ll love my book, For the Love of Sport which delves deep into the practical application of motivation and creating sporting environments that retain players for life.
So, What is a Growth Mindset, and Why Use Positive Reframing to Cultivate It?
Positive reframing is looking at a negative or challenging situation from a more constructive angle. This could mean recognising a hidden benefit, finding an upside to the struggle, or, as in Bluey’s case, seeing a challenge from a new perspective.
In *Dragon*, Bluey shifts her mindset from a fixed “I’m not very good” to a perspective that recognises her potential: “This is pretty good for where I am today.” This subtle but significant change empowers her to keep improving rather than giving up.
The impact of this shift is profound. A growth mindset benefits individual performance, resilience, and ultimately, lifelong enjoyment and development—whether in sports or other areas of life.
At its core, a growth mindset is the belief that talents and abilities can grow through effort, learning, and perseverance. In sports, this mindset is invaluable; it fosters resilience, boosts motivation, and encourages players to tackle challenges rather than avoiding them.
From a psychological perspective, a growth mindset moves the focus away from fixed outcomes and onto the process of improvement. For athletes and club members, adopting this mindset reduces fear of failure, encourages experimentation, and increases openness to feedback. Studies show this shift reduces anxiety, fosters resilience, and enhances long-term satisfaction. It’s closely tied to player retention, as it helps individuals navigate frustrations and setbacks that might otherwise drive them away.
On a broader level, a growth mindset creates a positive feedback loop, reinforcing the idea that skills and abilities can grow with effort. This not only elevates performance but also deepens a player’s relationship with their sport. They come to associate challenges with growth rather than frustration. Over time, those with growth mindsets experience greater enjoyment and engagement, laying a foundation for a lifelong connection to their sport—a central goal for any coach or sports club focused on retention.
Conclusion
Learning about growth mindsets and how to guide others into adopting them is key to building their motivation, enjoyment, and passion for the sport.
The *Dragon* episode beautifully demonstrates how constructive feedback, paired with a growth mindset, can set someone up for long-term progress and satisfaction.
If you can achieve this shift in your members, you’re far more likely to see them sticking around for years to come.
Lifelong Sport 
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