How Gritty Are You?
HOW GRITTY ARE YOU?
Developing grit is something you have to be intentional about, but it is a skill you can learn!
Let’s talk about being “gritty”. Grit is a life skill that keeps us motivated when pursuing our goals, gives us the ability to overcome obstacles and setbacks. Gritty people are courageous and confident in the face of failure.
Grit is defined as “perseverance and passion for long-term goals… working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.”
Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, is the world’s leading expert on grit and through her studies discovered grit actually plays a more vital role in success than other skills such as IQ level or other traditional forms of intelligence. Research confirms again and again that social-emotional skills are the most valuable skills that we can learn and teach.
Developing grit is something you have to be intentional about, but it is a skill you can learn! Here five tips that will help you cultivate grit.
SET SMALL GOALS
Try the SMART goal-setting framework which will guide you through setting difficult, yet achievable goals in your life.
ADOPT FLEXIBLE THINKING PATTERNS
Having a flexible mindset allows you to better evaluate circumstances and adjust to changes in your life. Try changing your scenery, learning a new skill, question your own thoughts and words (self-awareness in action!), or try to consciously change the way you normally think/process through problems.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE OF GRIT
The people you are around the most have an impact on many parts of your life. Choosing friends that are resilient and gritty will inspire and challenge you to be better and even increase the chances of reaching your goals.
FOCUS ON POSITIVE LANGUAGE CHOICES
Using positive language and self-talk can actually cause a neural chain reaction that motivates you to accomplish your goals. You’ve got this! One of our favorite growth mindset phrases is, “I can’t do it… yet!”
BUILD IN REFLECTION TIME EACH DAY
Spending 15 minutes at the end of each day reflecting can improve your performance, increase happiness, and decrease exhaustion. Journaling is excellent, but this can also just be a mind exercise. Try using the Friendzy SEL exit ticket prompt- what was your favorite part of the day, what is something you learned/experienced that you’d like to further explore, and what is something about the day that confused you.
Overall, grit is a vital skill when it comes to achievement and success. Regardless of natural born talent or intelligence, developing grit can help you persevere through difficulties in order to reach your goals.
Gritty teachers model grit to their students—So, let’s get gritty!
Can you find an opportunity in your week to model and share about grit with your students? Tell us about it if you do!
Looking for some extra inspiration on grit? Watch Angela Duckworth’s Ted Talk: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
