Grit

The word sounds abrasive but I am loving it. Grit. In a recent conversation with a teacher, the word came up. “Children need to learn to have grit,” she said. It left a mark on mind that made me really stop and think. Grit, in this context, is defined as courage and resolve. The importance of being courageous and having resolve cannot be understated. So, why would a Nutritionist be so fixated on this word? Simple really. Having the ability to decide firmly on a course of action requires willpower and grit. Changing our relationship with food, a relationship that has such deep roots, dating back to childhood, is a monumental task. It requires us to focus our attention on a vision of better health, more energy and, in some cases, finding extreme patience with the process of returning the body to a balanced state. It takes grit in those moments we’re confronted with temptation. It takes grit to sit with that horribly uncomfortable feeling of wanting something yet not giving in because it does not serve us in a positive way. Your vision of a happier, healthier you must be greater than the desire that arises in you to give up. Grit. On the other side of our struggles is joy and peace and pride, and from a Nutritionists perspective, good health. So, the next time you are faced with a difficult decision (food related or otherwise), take a moment to find your courage and your resolve. Each time you're successful, your teaching yourself that anything is possible, even if its not easy.