In this issue: What Yoda Got Wrong…/ Your Female Coworker Probably Wants to Quit: / Yes, Investing in ESG Pays Off:/ The Lighter Side of Trying
What Yoda Got Wrong… Why Trying May Actually be the Best Path Forward
I’m a bit stubborn
It’s my superpower (or so I tell myself).
When it comes to the important stuff, I refuse to give up…
I keep trying.
Those extra pounds took years, but I did it.
The long recovery from surgeries (yes, plural), one of which even my VERY-experienced Dr. euphemistically called “big”, I kept persevering and even made it part of my career.
I won’t bore you with my not-so-daring feats of persistence, because believe it or not this isn’t about me…it’s about you.
In a society that continually tells us to “do, ” it’s often it’s more critical step-sister, “try.” that’s most important.
Don’t misunderstand, like Yoda says if you can, then you must do…because that amazing dream, goal, plan, etc. of yours truly needs to be expressed and shared.
It’s just that sometimes, despite the greatest efforts, you don’t get to choose your timetable.
So, by all means, create success metrics if that helps you follow through on your goals, milestones, and timelines.
But don’t forget to acknowledge yourself, your progress, determination, and grit!
Because despite it all, while you may not “do,” if you keep trying, then you still “can”.
And as you pursue your goal…
You learn from the effort.
You get stronger.
And most importantly, you grow in the process.
This means the next time (if you’re gritty, there will definitely be a next time), you’ll get that much closer, until one day, sometime when you least expect it, you will “do” something even better.
How to Get a Bit Grittier, so You Can Keep Trying
According to the Grit Master, noted researcher and author, Angela Duckworth, there are four psychological assets we can cultivate to get our grit on. They are: Interest + Practice + Purpose + Hope.
1. Interest: In order to keep trying, we’ll want to have sustainable passion. Whatever “it” is, you need to love it. Though not all of it will be fun or exciting you’re willing to put in the effort over the long run because, on some level, it REALLY matters to you.
2. Practice: In Grit, Angela talks about Anders Ericsson’s work on deliberate practice and notes that one key part is the ability to discipline yourself to show up every single day with an attitude of continual improvement.
3. Purpose (or meaning) is about seeing that your work somehow matters. While it’s important to love what you do, in order to keep doing it over time it can’t just be about us. There needs to be a connection to something bigger.
4. Hope (my personal favorite): is part of every stage of grit. It’s that knowing that you can achieve what you set out to do. It’s that internal knowing that yes, you really can. “If we stay down, grit loses. If we get up, grit prevails.”
That sense of optimism is important. I’ve often said that I can’t change what happened to me, the surgeries, and everything else, but in my own Viktor Frankl kind of way, I know I get to choose my attitude.
I can either be an optimistic, partially metallic badass (ok, that might be an overstatement) or I can be miserable. Either way, I can’t change the past, but I do get to determine my present and future … so, I choose to keep trying.
Interest + Practice + Purpose + Hope…What choice will you make?
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RECOMMENDED LISTENS and READS
Your Female Coworker Probably Wants to Quit:
Stress, burnout and harassment all cited as reasons women are headed for the door in unprecedented numbers, a new survey finds.
Yes, Investing in ESG Pays Off:
Why are leaders so reluctant to make ESG investments? Even those who know they’ll pay off are reluctant to do so, for five key reasons. The authors outline each — the numbers hide the truth about the real cost, our biases trick us, we focus on short-term benefits, we think about costs in silos, and we miss the bigger existential costs — and propose a solution for getting past these flawed mental mo
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The Lighter Side of Trying
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Are there any other subjects you want me to cover? Have Questions? Or, Need a Coach to Help You Create Your Wild and Precious Life… Hit “Reply” and tell me!
I love hearing from you :)!
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Andrea J. Miller
+1 (646) 556-5401 (Whatsapp)