What is Grit And How Can It Help You With Achievements?

GRIT, a term which many of us may not have heard but know and understand quite properly. The meaning of the word Grit is 'passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals.' It is the ability to persist in something you feel passionate about and persevere when you face obstacles.

Grit isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t how intensely, for the moment, you want something but your dedication to achieve and excel it. 

• Grit as a Part of Psychology
• Positive Psychology: Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.
• Non-cognitive Skill: Non-cognitive skills are defined as the “patterns of thought, feelings and behaviors” that are socially determined and can be developed throughout the lifetime to produce value.
• Angela Duckworth’s Research

The term grit was coined by Angela Duckworth.

• Angela Lee Duckworth is an American academic, psychologist and popular science author. She is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania where she studies grit and self-control.
• Duckworth is best known for her research on grit, a strength she defines as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. She developed the Grit Scale, a measure of this construct.​

• Characteristics of Grit:

Duckworth identified 3 major characteristics of Grit:

1. Passion
2. Perseverance
3. Resilience

Characteristics that Gritty People Share

1. They’re interested
2. They practice
3. They have purpose
4. They have hope

• Important Facts about Grit

(According to Angela Lee Duckworth and Caroline Adams Miller)

1. Grit is subjective- People may have grit in some areas of their lives and not others.

2. Grit can protect you from burnout and turmoil. Gritty individuals are defined by their ability to push through hardships.

3. Grit can be learned- While Duckworth’s research suggests that some of the traits that underlie grit, such as honesty, generosity and talent, are present at birth,many of the characteristics and behaviors associated with grit can be cultivated.

4. Grit is malleable- Non-cognitive skills like grit can be developed/changed/affected by educational intrusion, reflection, change in environmental factors, change in cognitive abilities, etc.

5. Not All Forms of Grit Are Good

The best kind of grit is what Miller calls “authentic grit.” People who have authentic grit tend to be hopeful and optimistic and have genuine self-confidence that’s balanced by a healthy dose of humility, Miller explains.

But there’s also a darker side to grit.

You can become so addicted to the goal of winning at all costs that you take shortcuts and cheat –this is called faux grit.

If you become super disciplined, dedicated and goal-driven but you fail to acknowledge how other people help you and you feel the need to continuously draw attention to your success, that’s what Miller refers to as selfie grit.

If you persistently push yourself to achieve your goal even when it stops being meaningful, that’s what Miller calls stubborn grit.

• Importance of Grit in Life

Role of Grit in Self Development

People with a high level of grit are likely to be enthusiastic about and persistent in pursuing long-term goals. In this process, with a clearer understanding, they are more satisfied with themselves. Meanwhile, researchers also find a strong connection between grit and self-concept. Grit might reflect a particularly strong connection with the self, which in turn enhances self-awareness and self-knowledge and thus contributes to one’s self-concept clarity.

Role of Grit in Mental Health

Gritty people are likely to be less prone to adverse mental health outcomes, due to their propensity to experience obstacles and failures in a positive way. This relation between grit and mental health outcomes was demonstrated in three recent studies, which have all employed path analysis and have documented a negative relationship between grit and mental health outcomes among university students in China, college students with a chronic medical condition in the United States, and high school students in the Philippines.

Role of Grit in Achieving Success

1. Success doesn’t only depend on talent

• Grit is a far more reliable predictor of success than intelligence.
• It’s a powerful force that allows you to stand out from the crowd even though your skills may not be exceptional.

        Talent x Effort = Skill

        Skill x Effort = Achievement

2. Grit provides a sense of purpose

Grit requires an intrinsic desire to go beyond what can easily be accomplished with talent or skill. This requires a deep sense of purpose because we believe our work is worth it.

3. Grit helps in improving everyday

 A grit mindset never forgets that there are always opportunities to improve, no matter how good you may already be. This way of thinking gives people a leg up when confronted with an obstacle because defeat is never the default.

• Ways to Develop Grit

Research based

• Pursue your interests
• Practice, practice, practice
• Surround yourself with gritty people
• Develop a growth mindset

Personal Suggestions

• Believe in yourself
• Take small steps
• Understand the bigger picture
• Develop habits that will help you achieve your goal
• Learn to fail well

Examples of GRITTY people:

1. Akshay Kumar

2. Mary Kom

3. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

4. Elon Musk, etc.