Perhaps the most important quality to success is grit. Grit is a strong determination to finish. Grit is an unyielding courage to face hard things, danger or impossible odds. Grit is the stamina to complete a longer than anticipated project, goal or task. Grit is knowing the end game matters. Grit is seeing the finish line and lunging forward no matter the obstacles.

GRIT can be identified as Growth, Resilience, Instinct, and Tenacity.

Grit is a personality trait possessed by individuals who demonstrate passion and perseverance toward a goal despite being confronted by significant obstacles and distractions. Those who possess grit are able to self-regulate and postpone their need for positive reinforcement while working diligently on a task according to gostrengths.com.

Grit is passion and perseverance.

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What can we say about people with grit? They have…

• Backbone
• Fortitude
• Tenacity
• Stamina
• Consistency
• Reliability
• Guts
• Courage
• Spunk
• Foresight
• Resourcefulness
• Willingness to grind it out

People with grit are some of my favorite kind of people. When I am building a team, when I need help or when I am needing encouragement, I look for my gritty friends! When teaching children, I often try to motivate or inspire them to reach their potential. Over the years, I have determined that grit is essential academic and career success. We all know the individuals with education, opportunity and talent who fail to live up to their potential. With all the motivation and encouragement others offer, it is virtually impossible to move a person forward if they have not determined forward action.

Let’s dig into the nitty gritty of what it takes to recognize or better yet, be a person or grit.

5 Characteristics of Grit:

1. Courage
2. Self-regulation
3. Diligence
4. Passion or Vision
5. Resilience

Ask yourself if you are a hard worker? Do you finish what you start? Have you achieved a goal that has taken you years to complete? Have you completed a project that took a great deal of time? What comes to your mind with these questions?

Often the struggle that we are pushing through today will make us stronger tomorrow. Looking back, the effort we exerted created power in our character. Today’s struggle is certainly potential for tomorrow’s strength. Looking forward propels me to work harder at doing the hard days with the bigger picture in mind. When I meet a strong person, I immediately wonder what struggles, grief and hardship have they conquered? The darkness, the pain, the courage, the fear and ultimately, the grit of their story grew them into the person in front of me.

Life demands decision making daily. Some decisions are innocuous while others are downright stretching. For example, in our life today we are calling on our grit for these reasons:

Finishing the move of possessions from our TN home

Unpacking on this end

Maintaining my health

Finishing a lengthy photo, scrapbook project for my mother

Helping our children in moves, jobs and various needed solutions

Navigating so many new things

Writing and producing this blog and our podcast weekly. Proud of the 120 episodes available free to you in our library. So much to encourage and equip homes and families.

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Is grit a given? What if you need more grit? Can you add more grit to your character? Grit is not a given. Grit can be acquired if you renew your mind and practice self-regulation. Can grit make you happier? Those with grit do experience more satisfaction and better mental health. On a practical everyday basis, they are goal oriented and task driven with passion as the motivator.

Is grit inherited genetically or is it taught? Yes and yes.

Much of what we focus on here on the blog or on our podcast points to intentional living which helps with the grittiness of the everyday. Grit creates the inner power to stick with something or someone when it is hard. Grit allows a person to bounce back after disappointment, failure or grief. Grit pushes a person forward when things are slow, tedious and difficult.

Finally, if you are a gritty person, share yourself. Sometimes life is throwing a gut punch. Come beside your family and friends to offer your strength, encouragement and grit!!

Join me for a conversation with Tim on this topic @ Embrace Your Everyday podcast!!

More on living a gritty life:

How to Make Friends and Keep Them

When Life Gives You Lemons

10 Morning Habits that Might Sabotage Your Day

Books on HOME and FAMILY available on Amazon:

Nurturing My Nest: Intentional Homebuilding and Custom Built Education

Hum of the Home: Routines and Rhythms of Homemaking