Grit is the drive and determination to achieve long-term and meaningful goals. Essentially, it is one’s ability to endure and persist over time on a journey toward achieving large and difficult goals.

Grit is defined as the ability to overcome adversity, recover from defeat, learn from failure, and “keep going on.” It is falling down nine times and getting back up ten times; it is when things get tough, the tough get going.

Why is Grit important?

Because talent is everywhere. The world is full of what could have been, and talent is plentiful. Grit is the catalyst that transforms talent into skill and potential into reality. We have all known someone who had a lot of intelligence or great athletic ability but did very little with it for whatever reason.

We all also know that one person who surprised us all. There was nothing out of the ordinary about them at first glance, but their hard work and persistence over time focused on their goals produced incredible results. Potential can be realized when talent meets grit.

According to Duckworth, the ability to be gritty—to pursue what is important to you while remaining resilient in the face of failure—is a critical component of success that exists independently of and beyond talent and intelligence.

Without the presence of grit, an individual’s talent could just as easily remain untapped. Grit is required for talent to be transformed into a skill that leads to success.

How does grit develop the mind?

Grit can mean different things to different people. For instance, for some people, it can be mental toughness while for some it can be mental strength. To develop and transform your mind, you must first define what grit means to you.

It could be going to the gym every day for a month, learning to play your favorite instrument, or developing mastery in mathematics. Determine an area in your life where you believe you could benefit from more grit.

Once you develop a clear purpose, use the following tools to develop grit and improve your mental strength.

Practice

Grit is closely related to perseverance. It is beneficial to practice purposely and consistently in order to improve your perseverance. Even if you fail, use every attempt to learn what can be improved. Dedicated practice will make you gritty.

Purpose

Your purpose is something you can be passionate about in the long run. Practice is meaningless without a purpose or a goal. A keen interest in what you do is required, as is the ability to sustain that interest over time. Find something as a purpose that motivates you to keep learning and keep moving forward despite the difficulties you may face along the way.

Hope

The world revolves around hope, and it is important to remember this when developing grit for mental strength. It is the quality you require the most when challenged with unavoidable hindrances.

Failure is an unavoidable part of life, but viewing it as an opportunity to learn, improve, and get back on your feet will only increase your chances of success in future accomplishments. Stay hopeful and positive, and remember that failing is okay as long as you keep going.

Time

The last and the most important element is time. Success does not happen overnight. Achieving your goals takes years of dedicated practice, a clear purpose in mind, and remaining uncompromisingly hopeful in the face of failure.

Instead of becoming frustrated, be patient and give yourself the time necessary to continue learning and staying actively present in the game.

Grit is a far more grounded quality than impressive amounts of courage or inspiration. Create daily habits that will assist you in sticking to a schedule. This will enable you to consistently overcome both challenges and distractions.

More than courage, talent, or intelligence, your mental strength shines through in your consistency. Achieving your goals is as simple as showing up every day and putting in the effort. That is why you require grit. Grit can make you stand out. It will help you achieve your long-term goals because a gritty person does not give up until he or she achieves what he or she actually wants.