When I was a kid, I remember feeling like it was all about natural talent. Like in music school, everyone was so quick to try to identify the latest prodigy. And rather than internalizing, oh, I guess this is a lesson to me that I need to work harder, I actually just felt despondent,. "I don't have what it takes," she says.
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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