Life hits hard sometimes, and Bill McNabb's words could not have come at a better time. I came across this fantastic statement in a book I just finished, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. Angela, a neuroscientist with a PhD in psychology, discusses various studies and interviews with West Point graduates, athletes, musicians, etc. regarding their successes. The biggest question she proposes is what makes one grittier than another. What drives them to keep pursuing something rather than give up when things get tough.
Why am I bringing up grit? I believe that having an undeniable strength of character and passion, is a large factor in our daily success - whether it be in our careers, families, relationships, or hobbies.
Another reason I'm bringing it up is because I hit a bit of a setback a couple of weeks ago - my first competition of the season, and it did not go as well as I had hoped. The days events were a bit of a smack in the face and a reality check that I needed. Is it the end of the world that my day didn't go as planned? Nope, but it still stung a bit [more on my thoughts about that competition can be found here].
Bill McNabb said it perfectly; you can NOT overreact, you must take a second, step back and breath, and analyze the situation.
Though it hurt, I'm not dwelling on it there's no time for that sh*t. I'm learning and growing, applying what I know and working to make things better for the next time around.
Overcoming obstacles and persevering through the rough takes a lot of grit - mental strength. Obstacles and setbacks are almost unavoidable, so what can we do to move past them and continue towards our goals? Check out the steps that I use to move forward below! | 
