Using GRIT to Grow
If there was only one constant in life and sports it would be this - adversity.
There will always be obstacles, setbacks, injuries, difficult moments, and tough seasons.
No one is special enough to avoid adversity in their life, throughout their day, or in competition.
How you handle adversity matters.
The strongest and most resilient people will accept adversity and attack it head on.
The single most important attribute that ensures growth and a journey of significance is GRIT.
For those on the path to mastery, grit is a non-negotiable.
Grit is the ability to keep moving forward, no matter the challenge, no matter the feeling, no matter the scenario.
It’s a choice to have deliberate practice and sustained effort over a long period of time.
It’s a choice to bounce back after mistakes and make adjustments to become better.
If you have passion and perseverance, there is NOTHING that can stand in your way.
Dedication and daily commitments are bricks that lay the foundation for the dreams you choose to build.
Grit is the mortar that binds each of those bricks together.
Grit is found in the little details, the quiet moments, and the vulnerable times.
It is the trait that helps overcome competing priorities and distractions to get the job done.
Practicing grit is a confidence builder.
When a promise is made to yourself and that promise is fulfilled, cha-ching!
The fulfilled promise turns into a deposit for your “self-trust” bank.
After daily deposits of self-trust over a long period of time, it adds up to a significant amount of belief and confidence.
Everyone’s definition of success and achievement is different from the next person.
So it’s important to decide what success looks like for YOU.
Here are some strategies and techniques to build more grit into your life:
Identify dream targets - when you create definition of what you truly want, this creates clarity in what needs to be achieved.
Setting targets or goals can help guide your journey.
Chunk and portion out tasks that can be completed daily to work towards your dream.
Build resilience - resilience is the ability to bounce back and overcome obstacles quickly.
Consider making a mindset shift from “this is happening to me,” into “this is happening for me.”
When challenges arise, learn to attack them and understand they are preparing you for something greater.
Create consistency - grit can only be practiced by following through on the commitments that are set.
Consistently showing up (no matter how you feel) is where the real growth happens.
The 1% progress earned every day is most valuable when stacked on top of another over a sustained period of time.
Be your own hype woman / hype man - practicing grit can be a lonely journey at times.
Looking back on your progress and recognizing how much you have improved is critical.
Take time to reflect and cheer yourself on from how far you have made it thus far.
Make the choice to show up for yourself and show up for your dreams.
You have control of how you approach the inevitable adversity in life.
Make the choice to be gritty and get the job done no matter what.
The hard moments you pushed through are the moments that truly build your character and success.
Make the most of your skill and talent by showing up every day to do the dirty work.
Choose grit to become the toughest and strongest person (plus competitor) you can be!
