“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You MUST do the thing you think you cannot do.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Sometimes, amidst the moments when I’m thinking about where I’m at, where I’m going, and how far I’ve come, there is a subtle wave of pride. Not so much because of what I’m doing, but more the how. How I got to where I am. How I am able to do what I do. A pride that comes from knowing the fear that had to be overcome to ultimately succeed at the goals I had set for myself. That I am still setting for myself.

I’ve recently been reading Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance and wondering about my own “grittiness”. I come from a background where I don’t know that I would’ve always described my actions as “perseverance”, because it often instead felt like necessity. I grew up in a low-income household and am a first-generation college student. I was raised by hard-working parents who stressed the importance of hard work, education, and following your dreams. Passion then became that fervent perseverance and work ethic that allowed for the pursuit of a dream. Sometimes I wonder if my parents know I am as proud of them as they are of me, but I digress. 

I don’t think I or my parents (or anyone who has faced hardship) ever moved through tough times while thinking, “wow, this is really going to make me gritty.” Quite the opposite. Many would probably wish for an easier time. Navigating change, uncertainty, and fear takes adaptation. Learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable because outside of our comfort zone is typically where the real magic happens. Where we learn who we are and what we are ultimately capable of becoming. Harnessing that magic. Do it scared.

There are many moments in life when we have to go (and grow) through fear. I don’t think we realize how often moments of doubt, fear, and uncertainty prepare us for our future selves as we move through life. That we might not innately be born with grit, but that it can be developed. There is a power in knowing all the ways in which you’ve survived and carried on. I hope anyone reading carries their power proudly. I hope anyone reading this feels driven to persevere and do the thing they think they cannot do, whatever that may be for you in life at this present moment. 

With Grit and Gratitude, 

CB