Have you ever met someone who always seems to thrive through adversity, and who transforms their pain into opportunities for growth? These individuals possess what Angela Duckworth refers to as “grit” in her book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.” Through her research, Duckworth found that grit is what separates those who are successful from those who fail. But what is grit, exactly?

In Duckworth’s words, “Grit is sticking with your future, day in and day out, and not just for the week, not just for the month, but years.” Essentially, grit is a combination of passion and perseverance that leads to achievement. The problem that many people face is that they seek a shortcut to success. They want to work less while still achieving more. Unfortunately, that’s not how success works.

To achieve your goals, you must be willing to do anything and everything necessary. The most meaningful goals require an insane amount of hard work, determination, discipline, commitment, and sacrifice. However, are you truly ready to go all-in? How much do you actually want to succeed?

Research indicates that the ability to be gritty is an essential component of success. Talent alone cannot guarantee success; effort is required as well. Therefore, grit is the foundation of success. But how can one develop grit? Below are some of the characteristics of gritty individuals.

Passion is the first characteristic. Passionate people know themselves inside and out. They have a clear understanding of their values, beliefs, and needs. Additionally, they live in alignment with their truth and inspire others to do the same. Living with passion is about paying attention to and pursuing what truly brings you to life. However, not everyone will understand your path in life. True grit is being able to tune out others’ judgments and stay in your lane.

Perseverance is the second characteristic. It’s important to note that all strong individuals had difficult pasts. Persevering, despite all odds, is about learning how to sit with your darkness and soften into discomfort. The only difference between individuals who succeed and those who fail is their willingness to persevere and continue failing forward. It’s about knowing that your desire to achieve your dreams is more critical than any obstacle. Learn to embrace discomfort and use pain as a tool to become more, and don’t stop until you’re insanely proud of the person you’ve become.

Resilience is the third characteristic. Gritty individuals thrive through adversity. They reframe every challenge as an opportunity and do the work to become the master of their emotions. Resilience is not a test of how tough you are but instead has everything to do with your willingness to keep trying after others have given up. Resilient people are conscious enough to know when it is time to surrender to the rollercoaster ride of life. Their ability to soften into what is can make room for what will be.

Furthermore, gritty individuals have a growth mindset. Those who have a fixed mindset are conditioned to believe that their intelligence cannot improve. A growth mindset celebrates the journey from “I can’t” to “I can.” Below are some ways to develop mental toughness and grit.

The first way is to practice. Grit is like a muscle that you train and flex at the gym. You need to do the same thing with your mind. The fastest way to master anything is to practice and repeat it. To persevere, you have to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things. This is how you flex your grit muscle.

The second way is to connect with your purpose. Gritty individuals live on purpose. After studying 16,000 people, Duckworth found that “grittier people are dramatically more motivated than others to seek a meaningful, other-centered life.” When you encounter an obstacle that tries to take you off course, reconnect with your “why.” It will be the one thing that motivates you to keep moving forward, even when you feel like giving up.

The third way is to never give up. Gritty people don’t quit until they win. The only failure in life is quitting. Life is supposed to be messy, and you’re supposed to fail; it’s a core part of the human experience. All that matters is how you respond to failure. It’s okay if you fall seven times, as long as you stand up on the eighth time. If you can master the art of never giving up, there is no limit to what you can achieve in life.

In conclusion, grit is what separated individuals who are successful from those who fail. It’s the combination of passion and perseverance that leads to achievement. To develop grit, you have to adopt a growth mindset, practice, connect with your purpose, and never give up. Gritty individuals thrive through adversity, and they reframe every challenge as an opportunity. When you have the courage to use your pain as motivational strength, you will realize that there is nothing you cannot overcome.