Do You Have Grit? » 7 Indicators That You Do!

Are you feeling what my clients are feeling?

I’m hearing that they’re in a rut that’s feeling a little like a sink hole.

Many are complaining about lack of energy and a grave aura of uncertainty.

Given the state of world events, it’s not surprising. So many of us feel a need to take cover and insulate ourselves from what’s happening around us.

Again this week, news headlines illustrate the historic scope of a threatening global crises:

…The coronavirus pandemic

…Tanking stock markets

… Divisive politics and misinformation

… Ongoing migrant & refugee catastrophes

… Accelerated climate change

That’s a LOT to try to take in… day in and day out.

All this, on top of our already busy, layered, complicated personal lives!

So, guess what topic is trending a LOT lately in private sessions with my clients?

If you think its fear, deer-in-headlights uncertainty, and a sense of overwhelm or loss of control you’re not wrong…. But those symptoms are NOT what demands most of our session time.

GRIT is the topic du jour!

Sheer grit happens to be one of the most common characteristics I see in my clients because they come to me to get back on track after difficult personal challenges, transitions or crisis.

And, every single one of my clients has a level of grit that constantly inspires me.

They are the reason I’m devoting a 2-part blog to this topic! And as it happens, these times call for mental toughness and grit. Sooo….

Today’s focus (Part 1 of 2) will define what grit is, the 7 signs that you have it, and a way for you to find out just how gritty you are.

Let’s start by getting on the same page!

WHAT IS GRIT?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines grit as “firmness of mind or spirit; unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.”

It’s that mental toughness that pulls us up, and keeps us upright as we take one step forward at a time.

It’s those big girl panties we pull on to power through whatever difficulty we might be facing.

These days that might be global events – PLUS for my clients and maybe you too – it could be any combo of these…

• A life-changing crisis or unexpected trauma
• A Loss of some sort (a death, a job, financial stability, a big dream)
• A relationship breakup/breakdown
• A change in lifestyle like getting remarried, empty nest, retirement, care-giving
• A life reassessment like a career switch or new life trajectory
• A chronic Illness (mental or physical) or terminal diagnosis
• A sense of disenfranchisement (circumstances are discounted or unsupported by others)

It takes GRIT to navigate our way through challenges and difficulties.

Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, suggests that grit is the best success indicator for doing just that.

Yep, mental toughness was found to be the secret sauce!

DO YOU HAVE GRIT? 7 INDICATORS THAT YOU DO

1. Courage – the kind that requires those big girl panties.

Doing something DESPITE feeling scared, overwhelmed and/or uncertain.  Courage is the oxygen that fuels grit.

2. Tenacity – that refusal to give up.

Maintaining resolve, perseverance, and committed striving. Doing whatever it takes, and never yielding to setbacks, failures or disappointments.

3. Resilience – the ability to cope when things get tough.

The capacity to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward despite any obstacles along the way.

4. Growth attitude/mindset – that willingness to learn and grow.

Imagining possibilities and opportunities that others cannot. Making conscious choices to persist and stay positive when things look negative.

5. Focus – that commitment to stay on course. 

Aligning our actions to our priorities. Pursuing the goals we set for ourselves without being derailed by distractions.

6. Intuition – trusting our gut.

Trusting our inner voice over logic – sooo essential in uncharted waters!

7. Adaptability – that ability to adapt to the journey itself.

Being able to adjust as conditions change along the way. Discovering and landing in unexpected places.

“When life knocks you down, true grit is a quality that sustains you.”

Don’t you love that quote? It’s from the article Feel Like Quitting? These 9 Women Prove Grit Can Lead You to Massive Success written by freelance writer Carolyn Sun.

She shares nine examples of inspiring women leaders who have demonstrated grit and whom, she writes. “have shown us that quitting is simply not an option”. Read the full article HERE:

As a personal nod to you and YOUR grit, Bella, and to my inspiring clients, let’s wrap up with a few of the quotes from Sun’s article. These would have been GREAT quotes for International Women’s Day on March 8th too!

“I have had a lot of setbacks that I learned from.” – Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe CEO

“It would be lovely to think that success was a result of my being extraordinary, but the answer is far more boring. I worked hard. Really hard.” – Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Investments

“If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics Inc.

Hey Bella! Just for fun, why not do the Grit Scale quiz?

It only takes a minute….

Find out how gritty you are HERE!

Pssst… how did you score? I’m gonna bet you’re surprised at just how much grit you have! YAY, you!

Need grit to get through a difficult situation? Want some perspective or clarity? Let’s chat.

Book a FREE Clarity Chat with me on my calendar by clicking this button.

Know you’re stressed? Want to get a better handle on it?

What about YOU? How gritty are you?

I’d love to hear what characteristics YOU define as GRIT…. Drop them in the space below (and thanks for sharing!).