GRIT = WINNING

Editor's Note: I originally posted this on my personal blog, on 7/20/15.

Ever since I was in high school, I began compiling a mental list of THINGS I wanted to pass along to my eventual children. ??

One category was Entertainment (TV, Movies) that I wanted to relive with them at a later date, when they were age-appropriate. ????

Another category was my love of Reading; letting them fully understand how amazing books can be, both for pleasure and imagination growth as well as for aiding their learning throughout their school years. ????

A third such category was Manners/Compassion/Awareness towards others, no matter who those people are or where they find themselves. ??????

And lastly, and quite possibly the most important of all, I wanted to ingrain in them a sturdy sense of GRIT. ??????

There are other words to describe the notion: mettle, backbone, will, resolve, spunk, toughness. ????????????

They all have a similar underlining thesis behind their meaning - GET IT DONE!

I have always had this character trait as part of my DNA make-up. For as long as I can remember, I have always been a PLAYMAKER! ??

I have mentioned my life mantras before, but it warrants repeating here:

? GO FOR THE GOLD, GO FOR THE GLORY! ??

? SUCK IT UP! ??—>??

? DOOZE IT BEFORE YOU LOSE IT! (“Larry!” ???? ??????)

Having GRIT can mask a lot of other warts you may have, in all aspects of your life. The more you push yourself through adversity, the more reward you will reap, no matter what it is. Even the moral victory has worth in this realm.

I recall reading a tremendous piece by TED Talks speaker, Angela Duckworth, who is a renowned voice in the world of Psychology. (Search it and read it! ??)

She is a successful Psychology Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Her thesis, summed up to prove that GRIT is more important to building a child’s character than both Talent or even IQ is.

I loved reading it and it made me think about what Adam Carolla always seems to rant about - GRIT being the most important feature you can pass along to your kids, as a parent. ??

GRIT, more than any other trait, seems to construct a foundation of stability that allows us to grow and push ourselves past what we think possible.

Yes, there is no doubt that intelligence, learning, IQ, curiosity, all play an integral part of making up human beings, but even in today’s technological and instant world, GRIT is superbly important. ??????

You can point to instances of GRIT in various areas of life, to prove just how relevant the trait is to properly molding a functional and SUCCESSFUL mental base for taking on numerous different tasks.

Sports, maybe more view-ably prevalent than anything else, because sports is simple in the way you play, and either have a Winner or Loser.

But losing when you are younger is a good thing, even when it hurts at the time. It allows you to learn and grow, to avoid inciting the same feelings of resentment when you find yourself in that same situation again. ??

Allowing yourself, or your children, to: accept Failure (in any form), holstering Quitting as an option, or using excuses to externalize rather than internalize, will only lead to down the road to ruin. ??

Whether it be learning to ride a bike, working on your relationship, beating a tough level on Angry Birds, focusing on a book report, thriving thru a rough patch in business - you will NEVER (ever) get back on your feet if you allow yourself to succumb to any of those negative tropes. ??

Having a firm foundation of GRIT within one self will implore you to constantly move forward without impunity. Nothing will be able to set you back or allow you to question your effort.

The process, of anything, has some possible pitfalls that are unforeseen, but they will not matter an iota if you have this Energy Packet of GRIT stored in glass case for emergency use. ??

I have been instilling versions of GRIT to my kids for years now, since their inception, constantly adding new thoughts and ideas to their base. ??

Look at your children as a House. You have the frame built early, but each day that goes by, you add a light fixture here, a gutter system there, landscaping over here. ????

By the time they are fully grown, they will be proverbial MANSIONS; constructed of Brick, Regulation Coding, and high property value. These people will be the equivalent to The ENVELOPE HOUSE - ??????!

So use this advice wisely and craft your own lists and agendas to cross off once the time is right. The results will once again make your sure as shit about on thing:

PLAYMAKERS BECOME CHAMPIONS! BALL OUT!!!!!! ????

#Grit #Playmaker #Growth #Resilience #Tenacity #Guts #Building #Trait #boobaJONES