Having passion can lead to a person following through on their commitments.
Persistence can lead to a person showing grit.
We present how we can encourage and assist our youth to gain grit leading to success.
Passion can lead to persistence and that can lead to grit.
This is the main message that Angela Duckworth’s book, “GRIT – The Power of Passion and Perseverance” delivered to me.
Angela Duckworth is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her book was published in May 2016.
She informs us that hard work, perseverance, and the drive to improve have an impact on success.
She notes that talent doesn’t make you gritty. There are many talented individuals who do not follow through on their commitments.
Angela Duckworth refers to the “growth mindset.” Carol Dweck of Stanford University promotes this concept. Dr. Dweck has shown that the ability to learn is not fixed.
Students are more likely to persevere when they believe that failure is not a permanent condition.
Grit is the tendency to sustain interest in an effort toward long-term goals.
Grit impacts our success.
Grit is a better indicator of success than factors such as IQ or family income.
PLAY COMES BEFORE HARD WORK.
HOW TO HELP OUR YOUTH GAIN GRIT:
Providing children with a decent childhood is key to helping them to find passion.
Enable them to play and have fun.
Encourage play/fun periods as they are likely to discover some areas of interest during that time.
Encouraging play can evolve into strong interests and even a passion. Extracurricular activities and adhering to them can have a positive impact on their future.
A person can create grit on their own by having interests that create a regular habit.
Encourage them to commit to a full term for an activity. Discourage against quitting once signed up.
Give them the opportunities to figure out what they enjoy.
In a group let them observe what others are doing until they feel comfortable to try something new.
Let them build confidence by tackling manageable activities.
Practice, practice, practice. Enable them to practice regularly as with practice, industriousness can be learned.
Explain to them that resilience comes from the experience of learning that you can pick yourself up, try again, and succeed.
Some experience of success and lots of emotional support help build resilience.
Encourage them to seek other like-minded people who share similar interests.
Encourage, Encourage, Encourage. Encourage self-encouragement. Give them the power to evaluate for themselves.
Focus on effort, not results.
Involvement of others such as parents, coaches, teachers, bosses, mentors, and friends can help develop grit.
Coach, don’t control.
Overbearing parents and teachers can erode motivation.
If a beginner is pressured that will discourage them and it will be tough to get that interest back.
Let them do it without intervening.
Resist the impulse to work and improve their project. Allow them to complete the job and learn how to plan and execute a project.
The more children manage themselves and their lives and overcome obstacles, the more confidence and competence they develop.
