Never Count Yourself Out – Be Gritty
One of the best tools I have used to stick with daily exercising is grit. Grit as a personal characteristic is special. It is a blend of committing to a big goal and having passion, perseverance, and motivation to pursue that challenge.
Grit motivates us and keeps us going – over long periods of time. If there is a disease that requires grittiness, it is Parkinson’s.
What is grit?
I learned about grit from Angela Duckworth’s book by the same name. She is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth has led the research on how grit, as defined by Duckworth, gives us the ability to do what we may have thought we could not.1 Here is a quick summary:
Grit is about holding the same top-level goal for "a very long time." A top-level goal is your ultimate concern, a compass that gives direction and meaning to all the goals below it. Grit, she writes, "is about having what some researchers call an 'ultimate concern'— a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do."1
Paragons of grit have 4 psychological assets: interest, practice, purpose, and hope.1
Making small changes
Grit helped me change my mindset. Grit reminds us that we are strong and capable, and when we are not, we keep moving ahead regardless. Even if it is in small steps. Here are a few changes I have made using Angela Duckworth’s framework.
- Less thinking and more doing. Eureka!
- Commit to my purpose: To live better longer with Parkinson’s disease.
- Set goals: Exercise 6 days a week. Support my Parkinson’s friends. Volunteer with the Parkinson’s Foundation.
- Have fun: Learn to play golf.
- Try new things: Bought a used bike and added riding to my exercise goals.
- Write down what entices me to pursue my purpose. Belief that exercises makes me better.
How to practice
You can be gritty too. Try practicing some of the items on the list below in your daily life.
- Share your purpose with family and friends.
- Write down your goals. Share them with others. Review and update regularly.
- Go for streaks. Do not break your chain of success.
- Make your goal fun in some way.
- Avoid ruts; mix it up.
- Always work on improving.
Grit woke me up! I am grateful there is always a better day ahead.
This webinar with Angela Duckworth and Mel Dizon of the Davis Phinney Foundation talks about Parkinson’s disease and Grit.
Has grit helped you in your own journey with Parkinson's disease? Share your experience in the comment section below!
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