Grit is that trait of human character which connects it to other living creatures in the world. It can be defined as trying and moving forward without having a hint of failure in mind. It can be best elaborated by the metaphor of an ant climbing the mountain and hot backup every time it fell.
Failure did not stop it from trying again, and it continued its efforts to climb that mountain, and at last, it succeeded and reached the top. The same scenario can be applied to human beings. If one keeps trying with passion and devotion, without giving place to fear or disappointment in his mind, he can conquer the most desired goals of his life.
Believing in yourself is the greatest gift you can ever give yourself. Ignite the passion for what you do. It is the only way one can sustain the desired results in difficult situations. It is challenging but not impossible. Sometimes, excellence seems like the result of natural talent. But no matter how gifted you are or how easily you climb up the learning curve, you do need to do that climbing before you reach the top. There are no shortcuts.
Why is grit important?
Grit is important because it is a driver of achievement and success, independent of and beyond what talent and intelligence contribute. Being naturally intelligent and talented are great, but to truly do well and thrive, we need the ability to persevere. Without grit, talent may be nothing more than unmet potential. It is only with effort that talent becomes a skill that leads to success.
Grit matters because it bridges the gap between raw talent and potential and achieving success. Natural ability and intelligence can only get you so far — without the drive and determination to follow through, your potential will remain untapped. The simple truth is that achieving anything worthwhile requires effort, and you will face obstacles along the way. Grit sets you up for future success by giving you the strength to go over, around, or straight through those obstacles.
Grit predicts achieving challenging goals of personal significance. For instance, grittier students are more likely to graduate from high school, and grittier cadets are more likely to complete their training at West Point. Particularly, grit and measures of talent and IQ are unrelated in most research studies, suggesting that talent puts no limits on the capacity for passion and persistence.
How do you measure grit?
Pulse check to gauge your current level of grit; consider how true the following are for you.
1. I enjoy projects that take years to complete.
2. I am working towards a very long-term goal.
3. What I do each day is connected to my most profound personal values.
4.There is at least one subject or activity that I never get bored of thinking about.
5. Setbacks don’t discourage me for long.
6. I am a hard worker.
7. I finish whatever I begin.
8. I never stop working to improve.
9. How do I encourage grit in others?
How can you become more gritty?
Developing grit is possible with practice — what it requires for you is to have a growth mindset.
1. Model it
If you love what you do, let others know. Wear your passion on your sleeve. When you fail, openly share your frustration but go out of your way to point out what you learned from the experience. Emphasize playing the long game—life is a marathon, not a sprint.
2. Practice it
You can grow your capacity to perform difficult tasks and develop your skills by practicing things in a disciplined manner. Practice as you mean by engaging in focused and deliberate efforts to shore up weaknesses and make gradual progress every day.
3. Celebrate it.
When you see grit, draw attention to it: “Your work this past quarter has demonstrated enormous dedication. I know it wasn’t always easy.” Praise passion: “You’re so into this! That’s just awesome!”
4. Enable it.
The paradox of grit is that the steely determination of individuals is made possible by the warmth and support of friends, families, teachers, and mentors. Don’t let people you love quit on a bad day.
To have grit, though, you need to have a growth mindset. This means you believe in yourself, and you acknowledge that hard work, discipline, and effort can change your situation. You control the outcome.
To conclude, life is a long-distance race. Often, our eventual success depends on our ability to stick to it to achieve a long-term goal that we believe in. However, it isn’t just about mindlessly doing the same thing over and over again. Instead, it should be focused on continually improving ourselves as we work hard. While talent may get us a head start, our grit is our passion and perseverance for a long-term goal, which will eventually determine our success.
Are you ready to pursue a life of grit?