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What does it mean to have grit?

It means that one has courage and resolve—strength of character.

A person with grit is known to be tenacious, which is the ability to persevere and try with greater effort, as required.

In my life, I haven’t always been gritty. In my 20s and 30s, I learned through a ton of trial and error that I needed to scratch and claw my way to the top and develop a thicker skin. It wasn’t the way to go, sadly, and I suffered needlessly for it.

The other day, I posted a picture of myself on Instagram that, years prior, I never would have advertised. It was a selfie of me wearing a sports bra and donning my headphones, while flexing my arm muscles and showcasing an extremely tough and bitchy look on my face. If you didn’t know me, you’d think I was a mean girl with an attitude. But it seemed fitting for the post which I entitled, “Grit & Grace.”

I love me in that picture. I am so proud of myself and how far I’ve come.

When it comes to one’s physical health, I firmly believe in the 80/20 rule. You need to dig deep 80 percent of the time and be gritty as hell, and 20 percent of the time, you have to give yourself some grace—because it’s okay to make mistakes. You’re human, for crying out loud!

But, if you want to see tangible, visible results in your physical body and mental fortitude, grit is where you’ll spend most of your time. Too much grit will burn you out from trying so hard to be perfect. Too much grace can turn into excuse-making and justifications.

Do you want to win at the game of life?

Then learn how to balance both grit and grace.

How does one do that?

Practice.

Lots of it.

Because the players who are consistent usually achieve lasting success.

This is not just some passing fancy, my friends. This is a lifestyle. You have to keep being gritty. You cannot capitulate—you must always fight to keep your head above water and keep treading. It’s a jungle out there—and I truly believe that you are either a lion, or the prey.

Don’t forget, though: you must give yourself some much-needed grace.

You have to allow for adequate rest and restorative sleep, and it’s vital that you care for your temple in the best way you know how. You cannot continually beat yourself up for not reaching goals in a speedy fashion. You must practice a sh*tload of patience. You need to keep your mind clear of nonessential things, filter out the trash, eliminate negative people, places, and things, and preserve your mental capacity.

Life is already so hard, so to add more to your plate when it’s already jam-packed with sh*t is futile and useless.

Remember the 80/20 rule regarding your longevity, clarity, and resilience. Be gritty as hell most of the time, and do not surrender. Take no prisoners. Be so firm in your stance that no one can push you over, knock you down, or take advantage of your good graces.

And then, allow for grace periods. Soften. Luxuriate in your essence. Free your mind from incessant worry. Be mellow. Take the foot off the gas. Relax and restore.

I promise that if you follow this rule, you will be successful in virtually every area of your life.

Stay gritty, my readers!

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