Over the years, I've always been described as a "gritty" person. Someone who is able to accomplish everything they set out to do, someone who finishes every task to the best of their abilities, the kind of girl who will stick things out through fire and rain.
I've been thinking a lot about "grit" and the meaning that comes with it during these uncertain and turbulent times, where one bad thing after the other continues to happen with no clear end in sight. I've struggled in 2020. Hasn't everybody? I began to rethink what being gritty really means, and I happen to think I embody the softer form of grit: resilience. However, true grit can be condensed into two main qualities of those who are endowed with it.
A Broader Perspective
Although the word grit might make you think of something tough or negative, truly gritty people are incredibly positive. They have the unique ability to see the larger implications of even the hardest of situations. They realize that the future is not destroyed by one bad day, week, or even year, and that although the future may be altered, it still holds the promise of many good things.
A Focused Mind
Gritty people don't let bad situations distract them from the current tasks at hand. While the unpleasant situation may rob them of some of their time and resources, they do not let the upending of their world distract them from every aspect of their life. To be consumed by something you probably can't control leaves you feeling powerless. Continue to do things that make you feel powerful, like taking care of yourself and your health.
While this might not seem like much, the qualities that people who have grit enable them to thrive in a world of chaos.
Right now, we certainly live in a world where nothing seems certain. Who knows what the month of June will bring? I must admit, I wish I had more grit. I do, however, have resilience, and I know that even though I might not be functioning at full throttle like I normally am, my resilience will insure that when our world moves on to brighter days, I'll be able to pick right back up where I left off.
You're probably asking, "How in the world can I somehow obtain some of this magical quality? That's a question that can certainly have many answers, but I think grit is best formed by disassociation. Disassociate from your feelings. That might seem like terrible advice, but if you become so deeply invested in feelings of negativity and despair, it WILL consume you. I am certainly NOT advocating for you to bury your feelings in a tightly locked box and to through away the key. I am instead advocating for you to realize when to temporarily 'dump' your feelings, just as you would a toxic friend.
