Grit is defined as the “perseverance and passion for long term goals.” It means having the mental toughness and self-driven motivation to succeed. According to researcher Angela Duckworth, grit is “sticking with your future, day in and day out, not just for the week, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint.”
Grit is the ability to persist even when meeting obstacles or challenges. It means not giving up and being able to bounce back from failures. According to Duckworth’s research, grit (or mental toughness) is a greater predictor of success and achievement — greater than talent, IQ, or any other factor. Having perseverance and a commitment to our goals will get us where we want to be. Luckily, grit is something that can be worked on and developed over time.
So how can we practice being more gritty in our lives? Here are a few tips:
- Find what interests you and practice it diligently to develop your skills
- See obstacles or challenges as an opportunity to grow and push past any boundaries or limitations
- Manage your distractions so that your mind is focused on your greater goal (and not on time-wasting activities)
- Embrace failure and know that failing will just provide you with more information about yourself and what you are working on
- Remember your “why” or your purpose, and come back to this when you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or unmotivated
- Adopt a growth mindset and see everything that happens as an opportunity to develop yourself and your abilities
- Never give up! Have the hope and determination that you will succeed based on your hard work