In the Walter Michelle study, kids were offered a choice between one marshmallow and two. Some of the kids who are most effective at waiting modified their situation. In other words, rather than trying hard to exert willpower as we often do, it's about setting up your situation so that you don't even need to use willpower.
When it comes to reaching our big goals, focusing too much on natural ability can be counterproductive because it’s something we can’t change. Instead, psychologist Angela Duckworth wants us to focus on cultivating grit. For our final episode of this special New Years miniseries, Maya selected this interview from the archives about grit, which Angela defines as a “power combination of passion and perseverance.” Plus, Angela offers four key strategies we can use to more easily resist temptations and stay the course. As always, we’d love to hear which insights resonate most with you. You can connect with Maya on Instagram at @drmayashankar.
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