Personal grit is the ability to pursue one’s long-term goals with passion and perseverance, even in the face of obstacles and setbacks. It is not about being talented or smart, but about being persistent and resilient. People who have grit are willing to work hard, learn from their mistakes, and overcome challenges. They do not give up easily, but rather see their goals as a marathon, not a sprint.

 

According to Dr.  Angela Lee Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, outlined during a TED talk that grit is also good for your happiness and self-esteem. She also said people who have more grit are more satisfied with their lives and feel better about themselves. When you have grit, you are more likely to achieve your goals and feel proud of your accomplishments. You are also more likely to overcome challenges and cope with stress, which can make you more optimistic and hopeful. Grit is not something you are born with, but something you can develop and grow. You can become grittier by setting realistic but challenging goals, by believing that you can improve with effort, and by seeing difficulties as chances to grow.

 

Why is Personal Grit Important?

Personal grit is important for a number of reasons:

• It helps you achieve your goals. When you have grit, you are more likely to keep going even when you face setbacks or challenges. This can make a big difference in achieving your long-term goals.
• It makes you more resilient. Grit helps you bounce back from failures and disappointments. This is an important quality for success in any area of life.
• It leads to greater well-being. People who have grit tend to be more satisfied with their lives and have higher levels of self-esteem.

 

How to Cultivate Personal Grit

The good news is that grit is not a fixed trait. It is something that can be developed and strengthened over time. Here are a few tips for cultivating personal grit:

• Set challenging goals. When you set goals that are challenging but achievable, you are more likely to stay motivated and engaged.
• Develop a growth mindset. This means believing that your abilities can be improved through effort and learning.
• Embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth. Don’t let failure discourage you. Instead, use them as learning experiences to help you grow and improve.
• Find a mentor or role model. Having someone you can look up to and learn from can be a great source of inspiration and support.

 

Notable Examples of Personal Grit

Throughout history, there have been many people who demonstrated remarkable personal grit and are examples of how it affected their lives. Here are a few examples:

 

• Toby Cosgrove: Toby Cosgrove is the CEO of Cleveland Clinic and a leader with grit. He was a dyslexic student who had a hard time getting into medical school, but he became a famous heart surgeon who did more than 22,000 surgeries because of his prolonged perseverance. He strived through his own motto of ““Never give up, never give up, never give up”. Toby also changed the way Cleveland Clinic works and treats its patients s their CEO. He improved patient experience, hired a chief “experience” officer, and made a video instructing the importance of showing empathy. He shows that being a gritty leader means being tough and caring and learning from mistakes, feedback, and others. It’s likely he developed some of his grit during his time in Air Force. There is a positive correlation of facets of grit in military service members.

• Malala Yousafzai: Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani female education activist. She was shot by the Taliban for speaking up for her cause, but she survived and kept fighting. She could have easily lived a peaceful anonymous life when the UK took her and her family in as refugees, but she persisted in her mission to bring education to girls everywhere through the Malala fund. She earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, the youngest Nobel laureate ever. Malala is a symbol of courage and determination for people around the world.  She is an example of how to be resilient and determined to meet challenges.
  

  Malala Yousafzai at a UN summit in 2017.

• Nelson Mandela: Nelson Mandela was a South African leader who fought against apartheid for over 40 years. He spent 27 of those years in prison for his activism, but he never lost his dream of a free and fair South Africa. Despite every possible obstacle in his way, he stayed strong and hopeful. He became the president of South Africa and worked for justice and peace. He was one of the most famous people who showcased grit and perseverance during his lifetime.

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela