Grit: How to Keep Going When You Want to Quit
Grit produces hope, not the other way around. Every difficult step you take strengthens hope. But hope shrivels when you quit.
Helen Keller said, “Nothing can be done without hope and confidence,” but she has it backwards. Action energizes hope and confidence. Hope wilts apart from action.
Don’t lay on the ground waiting to feel hope. Hope meets you when you get up. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius
Grit keeps you from quitting, not hope.
Where grit comes from:
Your attitude about adversity produces grit.
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” Dale Carnegie
3 Attitudes that produce grit:
#1. Relish the battle.
Lace up your boxing gloves when darkness approaches. Bring it on! You’d rather go down swinging than surrender.
Tip: Someone else helps boxers lace up their gloves. Invite people into your corner. If you can’t find people to lace up your gloves, go lace up the gloves of someone else. Whatever you do, get in the fight. Don’t sit on the sidelines.
#2. Learn from the fire.
- Your ability to take a punch comes from getting punched.
- You aren’t a victim of the pandemic. You learned to value relationships, for example.
- Get creative when you get knocked down. What else might you try? Necessity produces openness. When COVID prevented people from gathering, you learned creative alternatives.
#3. Search for clarity during adversity.
Find clarity when your legs sink in the mud.
Identify what’s important. Forget about trivialities. Determine what truly matters to you. Establish priorities. Focus on action.
People who press into adversity eventually believe the future is brighter than the past. People who wait to feel powerful before they act become victims.
What keeps you going when you feel like quitting?
Still curious:
How to Multiply the Power of Grit Before You Crash and Burn
Book: “Grit.”
Exactly what I needed this morning. Thanks.
Best wishes, Candace. I’ve been intrigued by the idea that action precedes hope. I held to the belief that hope precedes action but I’m changing my mind.
I think having a vision is what gets you started. The clearer and stronger your vision, the more energized you are to take action. Good habits is what keeps you going.
Dan, your habit of writing a blog every day has motivated you to write even on those days when you didn’t feel like it. Establishing the right habits produces the grit you need to keep going.
Establish Vision
Create Plan
Implement habits
Habits matter. I was late today and thought I might wait until tomorrow to post. But the habit of writing everyday wouldn’t let me.
Bingo. I knew your habit would kick in.
Reminds me of the Navy SEAL saying “Full Benefit!”…
Grit and Hope begin with our attitude about adversity. “Full Benefit!” Is an attitude that enables grit and hope. Love it.
I had not heard the term “Full Benefit” before so I went to look it up… here’s one definition: Can you explain what the Seals’ mean when they say, “Full Benefit”? Every challenge is a chance to get better. The harder it is, the more value it holds. So when something is hard, you’re getting the “full benefit.” They say it to shift their mindset.
I can relate. 🙂 Thank you for opening my eyes to another way and another reason to press on.
“Tip: Someone else helps boxers lace up their gloves. Invite people into your corner. If you can’t find people to lace up your gloves, go lace up the gloves of someone else. Whatever you do, get in the fight. Don’t sit on the sidelines.” #TrueThat
Thanks!
I love everything about this post! I’m a fighter in life. I don’t pride myself on how hard I hit, but I do on my ability to get back up and just keep coming. I don’t think the enemy fears anything more than this.
I love the saying, “If you find yourself marching through hell, keep on marching.”
I’m scared just reading your comment. 😉
That Churchill quote describes the attitude that saved Europe from the Nazis.
The only way out is….. through. A good friend reminded me about that. It helps to have others in your corner though. Those are people who help carry your hardship. It’s also good to remind yourself that this isn’t the first (or likely last) hardship you’ve gone through. Those previous encounters with trials and tribulation are good reminders that you can manage this much like you have before. It lightens the load for sure.
I think Robert Frost said, “The best way out is through.” Powerful saying.
It so true that a history of pushing through difficult produces confidence when facing new challenges. And quitting weakens us. (Of course quitting is right in some situations.)
Dan, I want to first thank you for the service that you deliver to the leadership community every day! You bring nuggets of insights to all of us.
Respectfully, I believe that your statement on Helen Keller misrepresents her views on hope, especially when she epitomizes grit that fuels hope. As you know, few have overcome her obstacles and she’s created hope for the hopeless.
Please read, “Optimism: an Essay by Helen Keller” which brings a deeper context to her idea of hope.
Have a great day!