9 Ways to Build Resilience and Grit

You might be skilled, talented, educated, and brilliant. But, if you’re not resilient, persistent, and gritty, you’ll never make the most of those other attributes.

Think about the five most successful people you know. On the average, they’re probably not that talented. However, they know how to get things done and persist.

Resilience and grit might be the missing ingredients in your quest for success.

Try these techniques to increase your resilience and grit:

1. Stay in contact with others. When times are tough, it’s natural to crawl into a hole and be by yourself. This is a mistake. You’re more capable with a support system. Give up the idea that strong people take on the world by themselves. You’re stronger when you have help and support. Maintain your relationships.
2. Have high hopes. It’s easier to stand strong when you expect things to improve. Consider every bad time in your life. Haven’t things gotten better every single time? When you know better times are ahead, grit and resilience are easier to demonstrate. Focus on a positive outcome.
3. Know that the most successful people are those with the most resilience. It might be easy to be wealthy and successful but becoming wealthy and successful is anything but. The most successful people were willing to take on challenges that the average person would avoid like the plague.
4. Take excellent care of yourself. No matter what is going on in your life, you still need food, rest, love, exercise, and fun. Take good care of yourself and you’ll be in a better position to weather challenges. Most people ignore their needs during difficult times, but this is a huge error.
5. Be active, not passive. It’s easier to last when you’re doing something to make progress. Rather than passively waiting for things to get better, take steps to improve the situation. If there is something constructive you can do, do it.
6. Give yourself mental breaks. No matter how resilient you may be, take regular breaks to recharge your batteries. What is your favorite way to take a mental break? You could watch a movie, read a book, or go play horseshoes with a friend. Do whatever works for you.
7. Remind yourself of all the adversity you’ve overcome since childhood. No one’s life is smooth sailing 100% of the time. You’ve already overcome many obstacles. Remind yourself of your past successes during challenging times. You’ll have the fortitude and motivation to continue.
8. Live a life that revolves around your interests. If you have a job you hate, it’s hard to have a lot of grit and resilience. It’s much easier to have perseverance while doing something you love. Find a career and hobbies that you love. The need for grit is much lower!
9. Hang around with resilient people. You become more like the people you spend the most time with. Choose your friends wisely. You’ll become a stronger person if you hang out with strong people. Find some people you want to be more like.

What could you do with your life if you were the most resilient and gritty person you knew? You’d be unstoppable!

Most people spend their time trying to improve their skills. It might be more productive to learn how to apply your skills regardless of the situation. Build resilience and grit into your life and enjoy greater success.

Gregg Swanson is a peak performance consultant and human potential coach and has authored several books and numerous articles on peak performance. Gregg specializes in developing mental strength in individuals that desire to reach their full potential. He has developed a unique online training program “Develop the Mental Strength of a Warrior.” You can also pick up your free eBook,” Why Change is So Hard” by going HERE.