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Psychological characteristics of gritty individuals

a) Interest – “Follow your passion” is a frequent phrase we hear successful people say. But many people struggle to identify what their passion is. And the realization that “I don’t have a passion” can be rather disappointing. However, the reality is that one can foster a passion. This starts with identifying one’s interests. Indeed, research shows that people experience more job satisfaction and are generally happier in life when performing jobs that fit their interests. Their work performance too is better when they do what they are
interested in. Duckworth (2016) states that passion for one’s work is a three-stage process of discovery, development, and deepening. Discovering what one is interested in entails exploration – trying out different things to see what we feel most inclined towards. As we continue engaging in an activity we are drawn towards, interest deepens. This engagement is facilitated by the support of individuals and the environment. For example, as a child you are exposed to many sports – cricket, football, basketball, swimming, etc. Initially you seem to like (or not) all of them equally. Now, for the annual sports day, spots quickly fill up for all other sporting teams. The only place left is the swimming team. You join it. As the sports day approaches, you spend more time learning and practicing different strokes. Gradually your interest deepens, and you
decide to pursue it more seriously.

b) Capacity to practice – Recall the Math students at the beginning of this section. Even though they were not very good at the subject, they were committed to improvement with continuous practice. Interest is not sufficient. You need to spend time on it, work at it, build on it. Gritty individuals are driven to challenge themselves and strive to become better at the task they are doing. In other words, they do not become complacent.

c) Purpose – The intention to contribute to the well-being of others is another source of passion for those with grit. They do not pursue their interests merely because they ‘like them’. They pursue their interests because they believe that these contribute to the larger society in some way. They find a deeper meaning in what they do. This sustains motivation despite hurdles and obstacles.

d) Hope – Gritty people expect that their efforts will contribute to improving their future. And this is where the growth mindset comes into play. Instead of getting bogged down by failure, you believe that you can learn from them, do things differently the next time and arrive at an outcome that is in your favour. A growth mindset leads to optimistic self-talk. Example, “That was hard. Don’t feel bad if you can’t do it yet”; “That didn’t work. Let’s see what you did and what you can do differently.” Remember, being optimistic does not mean disregarding the negative. It means that you acknowledge the positive just as much and are confident that things can change for the better.

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