To be gritty means to possess and demonstrate perseverance, determination, and resilience in the face of challenges or adversity. It often involves the ability to stay focused on long-term goals, even when progress is slow or obstacles arise, and to push through setbacks with mental toughness.
Key Characteristics of Being Gritty Include:
Purpose:
A deep commitment to and enthusiasm for one’s goals, fueled by a sense of meaning or purpose.
Resilience:
The ability to bounce back from failure, criticism, or setbacks without losing motivation.
Perseverance:
Consistently working hard and maintaining effort over time, especially when the journey is tough or progress feels slow.
Growth Mindset:
Believing that abilities and intelligence can improve through hard work and learning, leading to a willingness to embrace challenges and learn from failure.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth, who popularized the concept of grit, emphasizes that it’s less about talent and more about sustained effort over time. She describes grit as a combination of passion and perseverance toward meaningful goals.
Purposeful Grit
Every person has a unique and powerful skill, people you are meant to serve, and a specific purpose in doing so. Clarity of what these things are result in the fire needed to keep going even when the world around you is screaming for you to give up.
Seek Growth in Discomfort
Society now tells us that to live right we should seek the life of comfort. It seems that this has become the Status Quo. Instead, I view challenges as opportunities that lead to durability which is created by first suffering and then overcoming. This durability is what allows us to be content in all circumstances. This level of contentment leads to a joyful life, not one of fleeting happiness which is the result of seeking comfort. It’s a level of mental preparedness that can only be accomplished by pushing yourself beyond limits.
