Grit, purpose and hope
The work to be done is constant and requires us all to keep at it. How then do you dig into that? How then do you pick yourself up when you've got it wrong (again)? How then is showing up an option if you feel overwhelmed and powerless?
Maybe it's the small simple things that you need to keep going Maybe it's something bigger.
Proof I get to things eventually, I recently read Grit by Angela Duckworth. This book written back in 2016 has been on the reading list for a while. With a new edition published last year (that had a bigger typeset print - the little things really are important to me) I finally got there.
Her premise is that success is not about being the smartest, strongest or fastest, but that your success is linked to passion and persistence towards your goals. While a complete definition of grit remains elusive Angela's work continues to delve into and explore not only the multiple examples and determinants of grit but how you can grow grit. Her TED talk (7 minutes of your time) from 2013 is a good introduction to her work as it kicked off. Your level of grit - or how gritty are you can determine your success, happiness and achievements. This article is an interview with Angela that digs into grit as being key to success and self-confidence.
"Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality.”
James Clear writes here about Angela's work and equates grit with mental toughness. James Clear has a wealth of articles and book reviews and is a great writer who digs into many of the same topics I do. He pulls out three steps to make action out of Angela's work. Firstly, define what grit or mental toughness means for you. Next up, build that with small physical wins (it's a muscle, you have to use it), and thirdly build strong habits, consistency and dedication count. Every weekend I sit down and write. I have done now for about 4 years, producing 198 emails over that time. They go out consistently on a Sunday evening, Today and actually most days I skip to it, I love doing this, it's a happy place for me to be. It's not like that every week and it was inspiring to read James Clear, who writes twice a week, talk about his honesty here and what he does when he feels like giving up.
Here are two additional resources I found that consider and describe the 5 characteristics that makeup grit. Firstly from an education perspective and secondly from Forbes, writing from a business angle.
Growing grit then, how is that done? In the book Angela looks at this from the inside out - what we can do for ourselves and then from the outside in - in terms of our homes, school, work and culture. She talks about interest, practice, purpose and hope. All big topic items that deserve digging into further and that can't be done justice in one email. This site has simple suggestions for you and for how you can build it in the team you lead. What stands out from Angela's chapters on growing grit and from the examples of how a culture of grit is developed and nurtured is the sense of falling down and getting back up. That teams have a common language and sense of understanding of the purpose that unites and strengthens them. Angela concludes her book with a simple summary. That you can grow grit, you can cultivate your interests, practice through daily challenges and connect to your purpose so that you can learn to hope when all seems lost.
I fall down a lot, it hurts and I get back up, again and again. I fall down because I throw myself at life with such purpose and drive. I fall because I'm trying and I know I will fail. Yes, it's exhausting, painful and vulnerable. This quote is mentioned in the book a number of times and in a number of references to Angela's work and it encompasses so much of what healthcare leaders do every day. To all of you in the arena right now, I thank you. You aren't alone.
