EXPOSE | True Grit: Being Constantly Tenacious
“…grit… sometimes it is stronger, sometimes weaker, but the constancy of your tenacity is based on the degree to which you can access, ignite, and control it.” – Margaret M. Perlis
EXPLORE | Grit: Passionate AND Perseverance
Passionate perseverance. It is grit distilled down to it’s simplest form. Which is the focus of Part 2.
If you read Part 1, this may feel like we’re approaching the topic of grit backwards. Maybe. Part 1 was meant to be more of a ‘drive-by’ on the idea of how grit can be seen as disciplined behavior, which is an essential part of being wise. It provided a checklist of sorts to help us see where we’re at on the ‘grit meter’. But most importantly, we tied those behaviors to the foundation of what I would call ‘True Grit’ (a life based on biblical principles and values = true character).
Before we get to Margaret Perlis’ summary of Angela Lee Duckworth’s ‘essence of grit’, I wanted to highlight an excerpt from Melissa Dahl that helps us stay balanced in our view, and pursuit, of grit:
“Grit, as Duckworth has defined it in her research, is a combination of perseverance and passion — it’s just that the former tends to get all the attention, while the latter is overlooked. “I think the misunderstanding — or, at least, one of them — is that it’s only the perseverance part that matters,” Duckworth told Science of Us. “But I think that the passion piece is at least as important. I mean, if you are really, really tenacious and dogged about a goal that’s not meaningful to you, and not interesting to you — then that’s just drudgery. It’s not just determination — it’s having a direction that you care about.” – Melissa Dahl, “Don’t Believe the Hype About Grit, Pleads the Scientist Behind the Concept”
EXECUTE | The Characteristics of Grit
At the beginning of this post, Margaret reveals that our “constancy of tenacity” is based on our ability to consistently stay connected to, and in control of, these characteristics:
Courage. “…your ability to manage fear of failure is imperative and a predicator of success… Fear of failure is characterized by an unhealthy aversion to risk (or a strong resistance to embracing vulnerability).”
Conscientiousness. “…Conscientiousness in this context means, careful and painstaking; meticulous.”
Long-Term Goals and Endurance. “…long-term goals… provide the context and framework in which to find the meaning and value of your long-term efforts, which helps cultivate drive, sustainability, passion, courage, stamina…grit.”
Resilience. “…resilience is the powering mechanism that draws your head up, moves you forward, and helps you persevere despite whatever obstacles you face along the way. In other words, gritty people believe, “everything will be alright in the end, and if it is not alright, it is not the end.””
Excellence vs. Perfection. “Perfection is pedantic, binary, unforgiving and inflexible… Excellence is an attitude, not an endgame… bound with the notion of fulfillment of purpose… closely associated with virtue… it prioritizes progress over perfection.”
Passionately persevere (read: Be strong and courageous – Joshua 1:9) in doing those things that truly matter. The life of wise is lived out in this way. What defines us is not just what we do, but how we do it.
If you’d like to have a more formal assessment of your level of grit, Professor Duckworth has created a Grit Scale.
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Further reading:
5 characteristics of grit, what it is, why you need it, and do you have it
