7 Ways to Cultivate Grit so You can Chase Your Dream

Sit up, sister, because I'm about to share a little truth with ya: everybody --and I do mean EVERYBODY-- has a dream. A passion project. A great business idea. But veeery few people are going to pursue that dream. And of the peeps who do say, f*ck it and go after it, you know what's going to separate those who succeed with those who give up?

GRIT.

When our passion has a wild hook-up with perseverance, grit is the magical love child that's created. It's more important than skill, or connections, or education, or even a boatload of money (although let's admit: a T-Pain style boat load of money would be pretty cool).

How do we cultivate this A+ skill? Read on for 7 ways to cultivate grit so you can chase your dream like the boss mama you are:

• BE BOLD & BRAZEN IN YOUR TENACITY
  Spoiler alert: the path to achieving your goals won’t always be easy. I guarantee every massive success story you see actually worked their ass off for a looooong time to become an “overnight success” (y’all, Ali Webb was a SAHM hauling around a duffel bag of hair dryers in her Nissan before she become a kajillionaire opening Dry Bar). But grit means you keep showing up for your dream, day in and day out no matter what.

• LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES
  I’m of the humble opinion that a mistake is never a mistake as long as you learn from it. If you “fail” it’s okay to have a good cry or shaking-fist-at-the-sky-meltdown and then you know what you do? You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and say, “Holy shit. I survived that. Now what was the lesson?” Reflect and move on, wiser than before.

• BE WILLING TO TRY
  This is where many people stop before they even begin. Grit means you’re willing to experiment and wonder “what if?…” Try new things and be willing to be flexible. Get creative and be adaptable.

• REMEMBER YOUR VISION
  What’s your WHY? What’s the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning, even on zero sleep because you’re toddler is teething and the baby is cluster feeding and whatever other hundred things keep us mamas a little, uuuummmm, tired. Even if you have to write it down on a post-it note and stick it to your bathroom mirror, be constantly reminding yourself of your bigger purpose. 

• KEEP YOUR CHIN UP
  Here’s a hard truth: when you decide to chase your dream and start that side hustle, you won’t be able to swing a diaper bag without hitting someone who wants to piss on your bonfire. When the naysayers open their mouths (and they will) smile, nod and then let their shit-talking stoke your inner fire. Prove those mother f*ckers wrong, mama.

• KEEP THE FAITH
  Repeat after me: whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP. Keep your head down and stay the course. Trust that if you show up, you will be led to exactly where you need to be, boo.

• BELIEVE IN YOURSELF (AND FIND OTHERS WHO DO, TOO)

I’m gonna make a big claim here and say that this might be the most important way to develop grit. When it comes to your dream, be the annoying AF optimist you thought you couldn’t stand. Having a positive attitude is about the only way to get over setbacks and keep going. And well you’re at it, find at least one other rainbow-farting friend or family member that will be your cheerleader.