Sticking with it
Effort Counts Twice
In the world of personal growth and tackling long-term goals, one word continues to surface again and again: grit. Popularized by the work of psychologist and author Angela Duckworth, she delves into its meaning and application in her groundbreaking book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
According to her, grit is a trait we can all build over time that increases our ability to persist in the face of obstacles and setbacks. The way I see it, it represents a form of mental fortitude, resilience, and a bit of stubbornness to keep going in the pursuit of something that matters.
One of the biggest takeaways I admired in her work is how she debunks the misconception of talent as the sole indicator of “success.” Instead, Duckworth emphasizes that the amount of effort you put into anything you do creates double the value of whatever innate ability you start off with; effort counts twice.
She sums this up succinctly in her neat formulas, which include talent x effort = skill and skill x effort = achievement. Another idea she covers that I agree with is the importance for everyone to explore a range of activities to understand what lights you up and genuinely makes you feel alive.
As a result, this puts you a step closer toward aligning your passion with a purpose, one that could hopefully be of significant use in service to others. That said, I’ve put together a mix of different ways to practice the art of getting gritty below.
1. Physical Activities
For those who want to approach this literally, signing up for endurance sports and training is a great way to visibly see the effects of the time and dedication you put into building grit. But more than the aesthetic changes you create in your body, opting for physical challenges has a positive impact on your overall strength and health on multiple levels.
Some ideas that come to mind are activities like marathons, triathlons, CrossFit, martial arts, or yoga, to name a few. Another way to go about this is to combine what you enjoy with nature and explore the great outdoors by doing something adventurous like rock climbing, bouldering, kayaking, cycling, hiking, and more.
2. “Hard Thing” Rule
We also practice getting gritty by embracing Angela Duckworth’s “Hard Thing” rule, a framework for doing something that requires deliberate practice that you must commit to for a set period. It requires choosing the specific activity yourself, and one that you cannot quit but carry out every day.
What’s great about this strategy is that you can do this as a group with friends, families, and coworkers every month or for any agreed-upon amount of time that works for all participants. So whether everyone picks the same pursuit or not, the goal is to keep each other accountable and feel the support of camaraderie in the process.
3. Escape Rooms
This is definitely up there in my list of favorite trends, one that’s gone up in popularity over the years. Whether you try this as a group with friends or family, escape rooms are just one of the most fun and engaging ways to develop perseverance, albeit in a simulated high-pressure environment.
With so many themes to choose from, including narratives weaving together story elements set in a prison break, haunted mansion, Egyptian tomb, secret agent, Western saloon, and more, the options are never-ending. It’s without a doubt the kind of collaborative, immersive experience that carries over to everyday life, especially in situations that call for a proactive, persistent attitude.
4. Musical Instruments
Of course, there’s no talking about the topic of grit without mentioning music, perhaps one of the most obvious ways to practice sticking to something long-term, no matter the struggle to get there. Playing a musical instrument is, hands down, a process that forces enthusiasts to endure frustration, embrace failure, and maintain patience.
While it’s not easy to start in the beginning, what’s undeniably brilliant about this style of learning is that it very clearly shows you the inner potential you might be underestimating in yourself, especially when you choose to consistently honor the power of repetition. In the long run, you’re not just building determination but developing a growth mindset while also mastering the art of delayed gratification at the same time.
5. Puzzles and Games
Another way to grow your grit is through solving complex puzzles and strategic games that really challenge your way of thinking. This is a great way to combine both learning and fun in one activity that forces you to experiment through trial and error, analyze mistakes, and think outside of the box.
From jigsaw puzzles to strategy boards to logic grids and more, there are plenty of diverting collections that you can pick to get started anytime. In the long run, this will support you in nurturing your curiosity and problem-solving skills, which will come in handy for multiple areas of your life.
6. Start a “Yet” Journal
One approach that has really taken off is the practice of using a “Yet” journal or habit tracker to get you aligning your point of view in a supportive way throughout your process. In doing so, you are actively using positive self-talk and visualization techniques to shift from a state of limitation to potential.
So, as self-explanatory as it sounds, you can try this for yourself by simply adding the word at the end of any sentence describing current unrealized goals. Ultimately, these incremental efforts compound over time, which will help you cultivate optimism and belief in your competence.
Action is Traction
The simple truth is our brains are plastic and constantly changing. That means that it’s already automatically wired for reorganizing, rewiring, and revising its structure throughout our lives.
As easy as it is to forget at times, we are biologically built for improvement and continuous potential in anything we seek to do. Sometimes, it just takes a moment of reflection to keep this in mind whenever we find ourselves struggling to stick with it, no matter how we’re feeling; no matter how tiny a step we take, action is traction.
