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The Power of Passion and Perseverance

 

The Power of Passion and Perseverance

 

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This article is a reading in the book  "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth.

Here are some key takeaways:

 

1- Develop a Growth Mindset: Adopting a growth mindset means believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed over time with hard work, effort, and dedication. This mindset helps you to view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than as a personal setback.

It allows you to approach challenges with a sense of curiosity and openness, and to persist through difficult tasks with a sense of determination and resilience.

 

To develop a growth mindset, it can be helpful to focus on these practices:

 

Ø Embrace challenges: Seek out new and difficult experiences, and approach them with a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm. Embracing challenges can help you to develop new skills and strengths, and to cultivate a sense of resilience and determination.

 

Ø Learn from failure: View failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than as a personal setback. Identify areas for improvement, and use failure as a chance to refine your approach and strategy.

 

Ø Cultivate a sense of optimism: Develop a positive and optimistic outlook on life, and maintain a sense of hope and possibility even in the face of adversity. This can help you to stay motivated, focused, and resilient in the pursuit of your goals.

 

Ø Value effort and persistence: Recognize the power of effort and persistence in achieving your goals. Focus on the process of learning and growing, rather than solely on the outcome or end result.

 

By developing a growth mindset, you can cultivate a sense of resilience, determination, and adaptability that can help you to achieve your long-term goals with greater ease and confidence. This mindset can also help you to stay motivated and inspired, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.

 

 

2- Pursue Your Passions: Identify the activities and goals that truly excite you and invest time and energy in pursuing them. Passion provides the motivation and perseverance needed to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

 

To pursue your passions effectively, it can be helpful to focus on these practices:

 

Ø Identify your core values: Take time to reflect on your core values and beliefs, and identify the activities and goals that align with them. This can help you to develop a sense of purpose and direction, and to stay focused on what truly matters to you.

 

Ø Follow your curiosity: Be open to new experiences and ideas, and follow your curiosity wherever it leads you. This can help you to discover new passions and interests, and to cultivate a sense of enthusiasm and excitement for life.

 

Ø Set clear goals: Once you've identified your passions and interests, set clear and specific goals for yourself. This can help you to stay focused and motivated, and to measure your progress and success over time.

 

Ø Invest time and energy: Pursuing your passions requires time and energy, so be prepared to make sacrifices and prioritize your goals accordingly. This may involve saying no to other commitments or activities that don't align with your passions and dedicating more time and resources to the things that truly matter to you.

 

By pursuing your passions, you can tap into a powerful source of motivation and perseverance that can help you to achieve your goals with greater ease and confidence. Passion provides the fuel you need to persist through difficult times and overcome obstacles, and can help you to maintain a sense of focus and direction even in the face of uncertainty and adversity.

 

 

3- Practice Deliberate Practice: Deliberate Practice is a technique that involves breaking down complex skills or tasks into smaller, more manageable components and focusing on improving each component through repetition, feedback, and reflection.

This type of practice is crucial for developing expertise in any field, and can help you to build the skills and knowledge needed to achieve long-term success.

 

To practice deliberate practice effectively, it can be helpful to focus on these practices:

 

Ø Set specific goals: Identify the specific skills or components you want to improve, and set clear and specific goals for yourself. This can help you to stay focused and motivated, and to measure your progress and success over time.

 

Ø Break down complex skills: Break down complex skills or tasks into smaller, more manageable components. This can help you to focus on improving each component individually, and to develop a deeper understanding of how each component contributes to the overall skill or task.

 

Ø Get feedback: Seek feedback from others who are more experienced or knowledgeable than you. This can help you to identify areas for improvement, and to gain a deeper understanding of how to improve your skills or knowledge.

 

Ø Reflect on your practice: Take time to reflect on your practice sessions and identify areas for improvement. This can help you to refine your approach and to develop a deeper understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.

 

By practicing deliberate practice, you can build the skills and knowledge needed to achieve long-term success in any field. This type of practice requires dedication, effort, and perseverance, but can help you to develop expertise and mastery over time. With deliberate practice, you can break down complex skills or tasks into manageable components, and focus on improving each component individually through repetition, feedback, and reflection.

 

4- Embrace Effort: Recognize that success is not solely determined by talent, but also by effort. Embrace the hard work, struggle, and perseverance required to achieve your goals.

Many people believe that success is solely determined by talent or natural ability. However, research shows that effort and perseverance play a critical role in achieving long-term success. To develop grit and achieve your goals, it's important to embrace effort and recognize its importance in the process.

 

Embracing effort means recognizing that success is not a given and that hard work, struggle, and perseverance are required to achieve your goals. This involves acknowledging that failure and setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and that they can provide opportunities for growth and learning.

 

To embrace effort, it can be helpful to:

 

Ø Set realistic expectations: Recognize that achieving your goals will take time and effort. Set realistic expectations for yourself and focus on making progress over time.

 

Ø Develop a growth mindset: Adopt a growth mindset and believe that your abilities can be developed through hard work, effort, and perseverance. View challenges and setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.

 

Ø Focus on the process: Focus on the process of learning and improvement, rather than solely on the outcome. This can help you to stay motivated and engaged, even when progress is slow.

 

Ø Practice self-compassion: Be kind and compassionate towards yourself, even when things don't go as planned. Recognize that failure and setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and that they can provide opportunities for growth and learning.

 

By embracing effort, you can develop the grit and perseverance needed to achieve your goals over the long term. Recognizing the importance of hard work and dedication, and being willing to put in the effort required to achieve your goals, can help you to overcome obstacles and achieve success in any area of life.

 

5- Cultivate Resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to changing circumstances, and keep moving forward in the face of adversity. Cultivate resilience by reframing challenges as opportunities, seeking social support, and practicing self-compassion.

 

Here are some strategies for cultivating resilience:

 

Ø Reframe challenges as opportunities: Rather than seeing setbacks and obstacles as roadblocks, try to reframe them as opportunities for growth and learning. This can help you to stay motivated and focused on your goals, even in the face of adversity.

 

Ø Seek social support: Cultivate a network of supportive friends, family members, and mentors who can provide encouragement and guidance during difficult times. Having a strong support system can help you to stay resilient and bounce back from setbacks more quickly.

 

Ø Practice self-compassion: Be kind and compassionate towards yourself, even when things don't go as planned. Recognize that failure and setbacks are a natural part of the learning process, and that they can provide opportunities for growth and learning.

 

Ø Build your coping skills: Develop healthy coping skills that help you to manage stress and bounce back from setbacks. This might include practices like mindfulness, exercise, or journaling.

 

By cultivating resilience, you can develop the mental toughness and perseverance needed to achieve your goals over the long term. Resilience allows you to stay focused on your goals, even in the face of adversity, and bounce back quickly from setbacks. With practice, you can develop this critical skill and use it to achieve success in any area of life.

 

6- Build Gritty Habits: Develop habits and routines that promote grit and perseverance. This might include setting specific goals, creating a daily schedule, prioritizing tasks, and seeking feedback from others.

Here are some ways to do it:

 

Ø Set goals: Set specific, challenging goals that align with your passions and purpose. Break them down into smaller, achievable steps and track your progress.

 

Ø Create a daily routine: Establish a daily routine that includes deliberate practice, time for reflection and self-care, and opportunities to challenge yourself.

 

Ø Find a mentor: Seek out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance, support, and feedback as you work towards your goals.

 

Ø Stay accountable: Hold yourself accountable by tracking your progress, sharing your goals with others, and seeking feedback.

 

Ø Develop a growth mindset: Adopt a growth mindset and view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning.

 

Ø Embrace discomfort: Practice pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and embrace the discomfort that comes with growth and learning.

 

By building these habits and integrating them into your daily life, you can cultivate the grit and perseverance needed to achieve long-term success.

 

7- Set Stretch Goals: Identify goals that are challenging but achievable, and work towards them with focused effort and dedication. Stretch goals help you to push beyond your comfort zone and develop new skills and abilities.

Here are some ways to set stretch goals:

 

Ø Set goals that align with your passion and purpose: When setting stretch goals, it's important to choose goals that you truly care about and that align with your values and long-term aspirations.

 

Ø Make them specific and challenging: Set goals that are specific, measurable, and challenging. Avoid setting goals that are too easy or unrealistic.

 

Ø Break them down into smaller steps: Break your stretch goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will help you to stay focused, motivated, and make progress towards your larger goal.

 

Ø Track your progress: Regularly track your progress towards your stretch goals. Celebrate small wins and use setbacks as an opportunity to learn and adjust your approach.

 

Ø Get feedback and support: Seek feedback from others and surround yourself with people who support and encourage you to achieve your stretch goals.

 

Ø Embrace failure: Be prepared to fail and learn from your mistakes. Failure is an opportunity to reflect, adjust your approach, and grow as a person.

 

By setting stretch goals and working towards them with grit and perseverance, you can achieve greater success and fulfillment in your personal and professional life.

 

8- Seek Feedback: Regularly seek feedback from others, especially those who are knowledgeable and experienced in your field. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement and adjust your approach accordingly.

To effectively seek feedback, it is important to approach it with an open mindset and a willingness to learn. Rather than being defensive or dismissive of criticism, individuals should be receptive to feedback and view it as an opportunity for growth.

There are several ways to seek feedback:

 

Ø Ask for feedback directly: Approach mentors, peers, or supervisors and ask for their feedback on your performance or work. Be specific about what you want feedback on and be open to constructive criticism.

 

Ø Use surveys or questionnaires: Create a survey or questionnaire that asks for feedback on specific aspects of your work or performance. This can be a helpful way to gather feedback from a large group of people.

 

Ø Use self-assessment tools: Use self-assessment tools, such as personality tests or skills assessments, to gain a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. These tools can also provide suggestions for improvement.

 

Ø Observe others: Observe how others in your field or industry approach similar challenges or tasks. This can provide insight into different approaches and techniques that may be useful for your own development.

 

Ø Use technology: There are many feedback tools and apps available that can help you gather feedback from a variety of sources. Some of these tools also provide suggestions for improvement and goal setting.

 

Remember, seeking feedback is an ongoing process that requires a willingness to learn and a commitment to improvement. Incorporating feedback into your goal-setting and planning can help you develop grit and achieve long-term success.

 

9- Find a Mentor: Look for mentors who can provide guidance, support, and perspective as you pursue your goals. Mentors can help you to navigate challenges, avoid common pitfalls, and learn from your own experiences.

Finding a mentor is a powerful way to accelerate your personal and professional growth. A mentor is someone who has more experience and knowledge in a particular field or domain than you do, and who is willing to share their expertise and insights with you.

Here are some ways to find a mentor:

 

Ø Identify potential mentors: Look for people who have achieved the goals that you aspire to achieve, or who have expertise in the areas where you want to improve.

 

Ø Reach out: Once you have identified potential mentors, reach out to them and express your interest in learning from them. You can do this by sending them an email, attending their speaking events, or scheduling a meeting with them.

 

Ø Be clear about your goals: When you approach a potential mentor, be clear about what you hope to achieve through the mentorship. This will help them understand how they can help you.

 

Ø Be respectful of their time: Keep in mind that your potential mentor is likely a busy person, so be respectful of their time. Be prepared for your meetings, and be mindful of their schedule.

 

Ø Listen and learn: When you meet with your mentor, be open to their feedback and advice. Ask questions, listen to their stories, and learn from their experiences.

 

Ø Show gratitude: Don't forget to thank your mentor for their time and insights. A small gesture of appreciation, such as a thank-you note or a small gift, can go a long way in building a strong mentor-mentee relationship.

 

10- Practice Self-Control: Develop the ability to delay gratification, resist temptation, and stay focused on your long-term goals. Self-control is a key component of grit, and can be strengthened through regular practice.

In the book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," Angela Duckworth emphasizes the importance of self-control in developing grit. Self-control can be defined as the ability to resist immediate temptations and impulses in pursuit of long-term goals.

Here are some ways to practice self-control:

 

Ø Set specific goals: Setting clear and specific goals can help you stay focused on the bigger picture and avoid getting distracted by short-term temptations.

 

Ø Create a plan: Once you have set your goals, create a plan that includes specific actions you will take to achieve them. This will help you stay on track and avoid making impulsive decisions that could derail your progress.

 

Ø Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment. By practicing mindfulness, you can become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and impulses, and learn to respond to them in a way that aligns with your long-term goals.

 

Ø Develop healthy habits: Developing healthy habits, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet, can help you build the self-control you need to achieve your goals.

 

Ø Delay gratification: Delaying gratification means putting off immediate rewards in order to achieve greater long-term benefits. This can be difficult, but it is an essential component of developing self-control and building grit.

 

Ø Monitor your progress: Regularly monitoring your progress can help you stay motivated and focused on your long-term goals. Celebrate your successes, but also be honest with yourself about areas where you need to improve.

 

By practicing self-control, you can develop the grit you need to achieve your long-term goals, even in the face of adversity and temptation.

 

11- Build a Growth Mindset Culture: Foster a culture of growth mindset in your personal and professional circles, by encouraging others to embrace the effort, learn from mistakes, and persist in the face of challenges. This can create a supportive and motivating environment that promotes grit and perseverance.

Here are some ways to build a growth mindset culture:

 

Ø Model a growth mindset: Leaders and teachers should model a growth mindset by openly acknowledging their mistakes, embracing challenges, and learning from feedback.

 

Ø Encourage and celebrate effort: Emphasize the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, rather than just talent or intelligence. Celebrate progress, milestones, and efforts toward learning and development.

 

Ø Provide opportunities for growth: Offer opportunities for learning and development through training, workshops, mentoring programs and other growth-oriented initiatives.

 

Ø Foster a safe and supportive environment: Create a culture where it is safe to take risks, ask questions, and make mistakes. Encourage open communication, collaboration, and constructive feedback.

 

Ø Use growth-oriented language: Use language that promotes a growth mindset, such as "not yet" instead of "failed", or "learning opportunity" instead of "problem".

 

Ø Recognize and reward growth and development: Recognize and reward employees, students, or team members who demonstrate a growth mindset, take risks, embrace challenges and persist in the face of setbacks.

 

Ø Emphasize the process, not just the outcome: Encourage individuals to focus on the process of learning and development, rather than just the end result. Encourage them to reflect on what they learned and how they can improve in the future.

 

Overall, building a growth mindset culture requires a long-term commitment to continuous learning, development, and improvement. It is a process that requires ongoing effort, dedication, and perseverance from leaders, teachers, and team members.

 

12- Stay Optimistic: Cultivate an optimistic mindset by focusing on the positive aspects of your situation, practicing gratitude, and reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth. Optimism helps to sustain motivation and resilience over the long term.

Staying optimistic is a key factor in developing grit and achieving long-term success. Optimism allows individuals to maintain a positive outlook in the face of adversity, setbacks, and challenges. It enables individuals to keep working towards their goals even when the road ahead is difficult or uncertain.

 

To cultivate optimism, individuals can:

 

Ø Practice gratitude: Recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of their lives, no matter how small they may seem.

 

Ø Reframe negative thoughts: When faced with a negative situation or thought, try to see it in a more positive light. Focus on what can be learned from the experience or how it can be turned into an opportunity.

 

Ø Surround themselves with positive people: Spend time with people who have a positive outlook on life and who support and encourage their goals.

 

Ø Set realistic expectations: Set goals that are challenging but achievable, and avoid setting unrealistic expectations that can lead to disappointment and frustration.

 

Ø Practice self-care: Take care of their physical and emotional health, and make time for activities that bring joy and relaxation.

 

By staying optimistic and cultivating a positive mindset, individuals can build resilience and persevere in the face of challenges, setbacks, and obstacles, ultimately achieving their long-term goals.

 

13- Develop a Growth Mindset about Challenges: Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Instead of avoiding challenges or giving up when they become difficult, see them as chances to develop new skills and improve your abilities.

Developing a growth mindset about challenges involves adopting a positive, flexible, and growth-oriented attitude towards challenges and setbacks. Instead of viewing challenges as threats or obstacles, you can see them as opportunities to learn and grow. This approach can help you to stay motivated, persistent, and focused, even when faced with difficult and unexpected challenges.

 

To develop a growth mindset about challenges, it can be helpful to focus on the following practices:

 

Ø Embrace discomfort: Instead of avoiding discomfort, lean into it. Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and take on new and challenging experiences.

 

Ø Emphasize effort: Instead of focusing solely on natural talent or ability, emphasize the effort required to achieve success. Recognize that even the most talented individuals need to work hard and persist through challenges in order to achieve their goals.

 

Ø Learn from failure: Instead of seeing failure as a reflection of your abilities or potential, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Analyze your mistakes and identify areas for improvement.

 

Ø Persist through setbacks: Instead of giving up when faced with setbacks, stay committed to your goals and persist through challenges. Stay motivated by focusing on the progress you have made and the progress you can continue to make.

 

By developing a growth mindset about challenges, you can become more resilient, adaptable, and persistent in the face of difficulties. This can help you to achieve your long-term goals and build a foundation for success and fulfillment.

 

14- Focus on the Process, not just the Outcome: Instead of solely focusing on the end result, concentrate on the effort and process required to achieve your goals. Break down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps and focus on making progress on each step.

Focusing on the process involves prioritizing the day-to-day efforts and actions required to achieve your goals, rather than just fixating on the end result. By breaking down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps, you can make progress towards your goals and stay motivated, even when the end result seems far away.

 

To focus on the process, it can be helpful to follow these practices:

 

Ø Set small, achievable goals: Break down your larger goals into smaller, achievable goals. This can help you to feel a sense of accomplishment as you make progress towards your larger goal.

 

Ø Track your progress: Monitor and celebrate your progress towards your goals. Keep track of your achievements and use them as motivation to continue making progress.

 

Ø Emphasize consistency: Instead of focusing on one-time heroic efforts, prioritize consistent, sustained effort. Establish a routine and stick to it, even when faced with distractions or setbacks.

 

Ø Cultivate mindfulness: Stay present in the moment and focus on the task at hand. Avoid getting bogged down by worries about the future or regrets about the past.

 

By focusing on the process, you can develop a greater sense of control and agency over your life. This can help you to stay motivated, persist through challenges, and achieve your long-term goals.

 

15- Create a Personal Mission Statement: Develop a personal mission statement that reflects your values, goals, and aspirations. This can help you to stay focused and motivated, even when faced with challenges and setbacks.

Cultivating a sense of purpose involves identifying your core values, interests, and passions, and aligning them with your long-term goals. When you have a clear sense of purpose, you can stay motivated and focused, even when faced with challenges and setbacks.

 

To cultivate a sense of purpose, it can be helpful to focus on these practices:

 

Ø Reflect on your values and passions: Identify the things that matter most to you and the things that you enjoy doing. Use these as a guide for setting long-term goals that align with your interests and passions.

 

Ø Develop a personal mission statement: Write a clear and concise statement that outlines your core values, long-term goals, and aspirations. Use this statement as a guide for making decisions and prioritizing your time.

 

Ø Find meaning in your work: Look for ways to connect your work to your sense of purpose. Identify how your work contributes to the larger goals and values that matter to you.

 

Ø Practice gratitude: Cultivate a sense of gratitude for the opportunities, experiences, and people in your life. Recognize the role that others have played in your success, and express your appreciation regularly.

 

By cultivating a sense of purpose, you can develop a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in your life. This can help you to stay motivated, persist through challenges, and achieve your long-term goals with greater ease and enthusiasm.

 

16- Find Purpose in Your Work: Look for ways to connect your work to a larger purpose or mission. Finding meaning and purpose in your work can help you to stay motivated and persevere through difficult times.

Finding purpose in your work means identifying how your work contributes to something larger than yourself, whether it's a personal goal, a team goal, or a larger societal goal. This can help you to stay motivated and focused on your work, even when faced with challenges or setbacks.

Here are some ways to find purpose in your work:

 

Ø Reflect on your values and interests: Identity what motivates you and aligns with your personal values. Think about how your work can help you achieve your personal goals or make a positive impact in the world.

 

Ø Connect with the bigger picture: Understand how your work fits into the larger mission of your organization or industry. Consider how your contributions impact others and the world around you.

 

Ø Seek out meaningful projects: Look for opportunities to work on projects that align with your interests and values. This can help you to feel more connected to your work and find a sense of purpose in what you do.

 

Ø Recognize the impact of your work: Celebrate your successes and acknowledge the positive impact that your work has on others. This can help you to stay motivated and focused on your goals.

 

Ø Embrace a growth mindset: Recognize that even if your current work may not align perfectly with your values or interests, you can still find purpose by embracing a growth mindset and focusing on how you can learn and grow through your work.

 

17- Develop Resilient Thinking: Reframe negative thoughts and beliefs into positive, resilient ones. For example, instead of saying "I can't do this," say "I haven't figured out how to do this yet, but with effort and practice, I can learn."

Developing resilience involves recognizing that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the learning process. By reframing these experiences as opportunities for growth and learning, you can develop a greater sense of resilience and persistence.

To develop resilience, it can be helpful to focus on these practices:

 

Ø Reframe failure as an opportunity for growth: Instead of seeing failure as a negative outcome, reframe it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Ask yourself what you can learn from the experience, and how you can apply that learning to future challenges.

 

Ø Practice self-compassion: Be kind and compassionate towards yourself, especially when faced with setbacks or failures. Avoid harsh self-criticism, and instead practice self-compassion by treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a close friend.

 

Ø Seek support: Reach out to others for support and encouragement. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your abilities, and who can offer guidance and advice when needed.

 

Ø Embrace challenges: View challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace new and difficult experiences, and use them as a chance to develop new skills and strengths.

 

By developing resilience, you can bounce back from setbacks and failures more quickly and with greater ease. This can help you to stay motivated, persist through challenges, and achieve your long-term goals with greater confidence and determination.

 

18- Cultivate a Growth Mindset about People: Believe that people can change and grow over time. This can help you to see potential in yourself and others, and to approach challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Cultivating a growth mindset about people involves recognizing that people have the capacity to change and grow over time. By adopting a growth mindset, you can see potential in yourself and others, and approach challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth.

To cultivate a growth mindset about people, it can be helpful to focus on these practices:

 

Ø Recognize the power of effort and persistence: Adopt the belief that effort and persistence can lead to growth and improvement. Focus on the process of learning and growing, rather than on the outcome or end result.

 

Ø Reframe setbacks and failures: View setbacks and failures as opportunities for growth and learning. See them as a chance to identify areas for improvement, and to develop new skills and strengths.

 

Ø Practice empathy and compassion: Cultivate empathy and compassion towards others, and recognize that everyone is on their own unique journey. Avoid making snap judgments or assumptions about others, and instead approach them with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

 

Ø Surround yourself with positive influences: Seek out people who support and encourage your growth and development, and who also embody a growth mindset. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can help you to stay motivated, inspired, and focused on your long-term goals.

 

By cultivating a growth mindset about people, you can develop a greater sense of resilience, persistence, and adaptability. This can help you to navigate challenges and setbacks with greater ease and confidence, and to achieve your long-term goals with greater enthusiasm and determination.

Conclusion

Overall, these tips and strategies can help you to cultivate grit and achieve your goals, even in the face of adversity. By adopting a growth mindset, pursuing your passions, practicing deliberate practice, and developing resilience and self-control, you can build a foundation for long-term success and fulfillment.

These are just a few more examples of the many strategies and insights found in "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance." By incorporating these ideas into your daily life, you can develop grit and achieve long-term success in your personal and professional pursuits.


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