Source: Izf / Shutterstock

Success is often associated with talent and intelligence, but research suggests that resilience and grit are more critical factors in the face of challenges. Grit has been identified as a key predictor of success in various domains, including military training, education, the workplace, academics, and relationships. In addition, empirical research has shed light on the importance of cultivating resilience and grit to overcome obstacles and achieve long-term goals. Here's what the science says about resilience and grit and how you can build them.

What Are Resilience and Grit?

Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, distinguishing between resilience and grit. She defines resilience as the ability to bounce back from adversity, while grit is the combination of passion and perseverance toward long-term goals. Resilience is necessary for recovery, while grit is essential for success, surpassing talent, intelligence, and luck.

Duckworth and her colleagues developed the Grit Scale, which measures an individual's level of grit. Extensive research has found that grit predicts achievement and success better than innate talent or intelligence.

Those with higher levels of grit were more likely to achieve their goals than those with lower levels of grit. However, more studies, such as a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology by Caporale-Berkowitz et al. (2022), found that resilience, not grit, was a better predictor of college student retention following academic probation. Despite adversity, people can develop grit by cultivating resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Then by embracing passion, practicing deliberately, developing a growth mindset, finding purpose, and delaying gratification, individuals can build their grit and achieve long-term goals.

Moreover, individuals who experience adverse childhood events (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, may have lower levels of grit due to the trauma they experienced. However, it's important to note that the relationship between ACEs and grit is complex. While exposure to ACEs can lead to the development of resilience, which helps individuals bounce back from adversity, high levels of resilience can often offset low levels of grit in adults.

Further, grit is not something that people are necessarily born with. Instead, it can be developed over time, even in adulthood. Although, individuals who reported higher levels of attachment security were likelier to exhibit more extraordinary perseverance in the face of setbacks and challenges. Other studies have found that attachment security was positively associated with grit and psychological resilience.

The Downside of Grit

There are downsides to over-focusing on one goal, however. For example, a study by Caza and Milton (2019) found that grit has a dark side in that it can lead individuals to pursue goals that may harm their well-being. This highlights the importance of being cautious about the downsides of over-focusing on a single goal.

Tips for Developing Grit:

1. Cultivate persistence: Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and push through difficult times.

2. Practice deliberately: Set specific goals and work to improve gradually over time. Embrace challenges and seek out feedback to facilitate continuous learning and growth.

3. Develop a growth mindset: Believe that your abilities and intelligence can evolve with hard work and practice, which can help foster resilience and the willingness to keep going.

4. Find your passion: When you are passionate and interested in what you are doing, it can help fuel grit and persistence.

5. Cultivate a sense of purpose: Connecting goals and actions to understand purpose better can provide meaning and direction, reinforcing the commitment to persevere through difficult times.

6. Delaying gratification may also be associated with grit.

7. Be careful of the downsides if overfocus stops you from ending a pursuit, even when the need to end it is apparent.

Conclusion

Although talent and intelligence certainly play a role in achieving success, resilience, and grit are equally critical factors. The good news is that grit can be developed over time by cultivating resilience, pursuing a passion, developing a growth mindset, finding purpose, delaying gratification, and seeking feedback to facilitate continuous learning and growth. While it is essential to be cautious of the downsides of over-focusing on one goal, grit remains a powerful tool that can help individuals overcome obstacles on their path to success. Furthermore, resilience is a crucial component of grit and may even be considered equal in importance.