Do You Have the Characteristics of Grit?
What does it take to develop the toughness to endure and grow from hard things?
A few months ago I wrote about the value of hard things—as a way to identify the purpose of this semi-weekly newsletter: do hard things on purpose! We looked at Paul's encouragement to thank God for suffering and trials because they are God's way of refining us for His glory.
But I recognize just because the Bible says it doesn't mean we necessarily always embrace it. Hard things as a means to breakthrough sound great until, you know, you have to go through those hard things. So how do you develop the toughness needed to allow hard things to shape you positively?
In her wonderful book Grit, Angela Duckworth references characteristics in people who have grit—a toughness to not only withstand life's difficulties but also grow from them. Let's look at those four of those characteristics:
Interest
In order to develop a passion that can work through hard things, you have to enjoy the thing as is. Certainly, nearly everything has aspects we will enjoy less, but a curiosity within this interest can help you work through difficulties.
In the process of writing my book I took on a personal mantra of enjoying the work for the sake of the work. Meaning, what became gratifying was the work itself, not any results or outcome. It was my enjoying the work of writing that helped me pound out hundreds of words every day for over half a year. In the end, I wrote a book.
This is what I mean by enjoying the process. We get too focused on results and often lose interest because of it. When the process > results, you can find enjoyment in the work.
Practice
Duckworth described this as, "the daily discipline of trying to do things better than we did yesterday." In order for this to happen, you must resist complacency. And trust me, complacency will come. The shine will wear off. The butterflies and excitement will go away.
We recently bought a basketball hoop for our son to use in our driveway. Some days his interest in it is better than others, but one thing that consistently has him going outside to play is a desire to improve specific basketball skills. He's sick of losing to his dad!
If you have a personal drive to improve, you can overcome the inevitable complacency because you will know you haven't arrived yet.
Purpose
If practice is about resisting complacency, purpose is focused on conviction. You might consider this the "know your why" imperative. Without knowing the why behind your work, the disappointments will eventually overwhelm you.
Consider Jesus, just before being arrested. He spent hours praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and his prayer ended with purpose statement: "Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus endured the cross in part because he knew why it was necessary. His obedience to the greater purpose of His life overcame any desire He had to relieve the agony.
Hope
The author of Hebrews connects faith and hope by saying "faith is the assurance of things hoped for." Paul focuses on hope at end of Romans: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Hope is found when it's placed on God and pursued through God.
In Grit, Duckworth says hope is not so much an isolated thing to focus on, but a characteristic that invades all the others. Hope, however, is only helpful if what you place it in is reliable. You? Me? Don't put your hope there. It'll fall apart quickly.
But God? Steadfast, faithful, seeing, providing. Hope in God is a worthwhile endeavor. He will not fail.
If you're like me, you see this list of characteristics that lead to grittiness, you realize you have work to do.
May the Lord give us a contending spirit.
Contending,
Tyler