TRTC - Its Time to Get Gritty

Get Gritty

What does it mean to have grit?  According to psychologist, Angela Duckworth, author of the New York Times best seller Grit, grit is a combination of passion and perseverance for a singularly important goal.  Your place on the grit scale ( https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-scale/) is a better indicator of success than intellectual IQ.  Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg all quit college and later became billionaires.  I’m sure they also have high IQs, but I can guarantee their grit scores are even more impressive.  But what if you aren’t gritty?  Are you destined for failure?  Thankfully, the answer is NO; grit can be learned. 

There are multiple theories on how to develop grit and all of them require you to change your mindset from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

Fixed mindset: A fixed mindset is, “believing your qualities are carved in stone,” according to Carol Dweck, Stanford psychologist.  Examples of a fixed mindset:

·       “I can’t run.”  

·       “I suck at math.”

·       “It’s impossible to save money.”

·       “That would never work.”

Say these things long enough and you begin to believe them as truths.  It becomes part of your identity.  You’re the person who sucks at math, so you avoid it.  You never save money because you believe it’s impossible.  These are limiting beliefs, but nonetheless, you become your beliefs.

Growth mindset: A growth mindset is “the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.” Examples of a growth mindset:

·       “Running is hard, but if I do it consistently, it will get easier.”

·       “I can learn math.”

·       “I can save at least $5/week.”

·       “Let’s see if this works.”

People with growth mindsets have the ability to persevere, even fail, but continue to keep moving forward.  Like Dory in the Pixar movie Finding Nemo, you have to “just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”   

If you’re going to achieve your goals, you need to develop grit by switching from a fixed to a growth mindset. This may require you to change how you see yourself!

Here is your next step in the challenge: Change Your Identity!  Choose one of your intentions and BECOME the person who already does that thing. 

If weight loss is an intention, become the person who already lost weight and act like they act.

Someone who lost weight:

·       Plans their meals according to their goals.

·       Strength trains 3x/week and walks 45-60 minutes 2x/week.

·       Chooses foods they like to eat and align with their goals.

·       Practices grace when they over-indulge.

·       Doesn’t believe in good or bad foods.

·       Accepts this as their lifestyle, not a means to an end.

·       They sleep 8 hours a night.

·       They say “no” to happy hour in lieu of a walk with friends.

·       Doesn’t reward themselves with food.

·       Owns their decisions and doesn’t make excuses.

This week follow this process for one of your intentions and post it to Trainerize.  Become Dory and leave Marlin in the fishpond.