Grit: The Power Of Passion And Perseverance

This past summer, a family member introduced me to Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines grit as firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger. In her book, Angela Duckworth is answering the question of which factors can determine one’s success in different fields. Is our talent or giftedness in a particular field sufficient for achieving success or is there something else we need in order to succeed? 

Many times we hear (or say ourselves) Look at this beautiful painting. She is so talented! or Wow! You have to read his essay. He is something. While there is nothing wrong with these statements, I am urging you to think deeper about the implicit meaning behind them. Is the painting beautiful merely because the painter has a natural talent for painting? Do we actually stop and think about how much time and effort went into creating that final work?

According to Angela Duckworth, talent can only get us so far. Many times, talent distracts us. It actually does not guarantee good marks, achievements, or success. If we really want to be and feel successful and accomplished, we need to be ready to demonstrate passion and perseverance. In other words, we need to be willing to spend numerous hours practising a certain skill. Nothing new? Maybe. Still, it helped me to pause and reflect. When I say I am just not good at this, what I really mean is that I am not really willing to invest the time and effort into mastering this skill yet. Certainly, as we get older, many things take a much longer time to learn. However, nothing is impossible. The research in the field of neuroscience shows us that the human brain is malleable. It changes as a result of our experiences.      

A few weeks ago, when my son came home from school and told me Language is so hard, I am not good at it, I am going to get a bad mark, I hesitated and thought before making my reply. Eventually, I answered I agree, writing a high school essay is not easy. However, it all depends on how much practice you are willing to give it. What I mean is, your first essay might not come back perfect, but if you keep practising, I am sure that in the end, you are going to be happy about your work. After sharing Angela Duckworth’s views on grit, I decided to recommend the book to my son. Several days later, he shared that he found the book very interesting and that it motivated him to do better in school.  

The book is an easy read. I believe it has the power to transform our thinking and to remind us about the power our words carry when we speak to our children, family members, and friends. Chapter ten, in particular, is titled Parenting For Grit. 

You will need to find six minutes in your busy schedule to listen to Angela Duckworth herself. Be inspired!