By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A four-letter word – grit – has recently created a buzz in the areas of childhood education and policy. “Grit” was largely popularized through a TED talk by Angela Lee Duckworth, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her studies have shown that a trait she calls “grit” is the best predictor of academic and professional success, regardless of a person’s socioeconomic background.
This is how Duckworth describes grit in her TED talk: “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
In her TED talk, Duckworth said that while researchers have identified grit as a predictor of success, they aren’t in agreement on how to foster grit in children, for example. As she said, “We need to be gritty about getting our kids grittier” in terms of developing techniques that work.
Locally Gregg Steinberg, an author and an associate professor of psychology at Austin Peay State University, thinks all of this talk about grit is just a spin on what he calls “determination.”
“To me, it is nothing new,” Steinberg said.
What is new, he said, is the stage just beyond grit. It is what he calls “transcendence” or “transcend-abilty.”
A noted sports psychologist and Washington Post best-selling author, Steinberg is the author of three books: “Full Throttle: 122 Strategies to Supercharge Your Performance at Work,” “Mental Rules for Golf: 65 Innovative Strategies for Unleashing your Golf Potential” and “Flying Lessons: 122
Strategies to Equip Your Child to Soar into Life with Confidence and Competence.”
Readers of “Flying Lessons” will recognize that Steinberg has essentially spoken about helping children develop mental toughness. Currently, Steinberg is working on his next book, in which he describes “transcend-ability” and how people can find it within themselves.
“If you look at grit, you might say it’s resilience,” Steinberg said. “Resilience is bouncing back after a loss or tragedy.”
But in interviewing people all over the country and the world, Steinberg said he discovered that certain remarkable people go beyond resilience after undergoing a “seriously stinging tragedy.” They may have experienced a natural disaster, the loss of limbs, a bankruptcy or a traumatic accident.
“They have a spotlight put on their life,” Steinberg said. “They realize they’re not happy; there’s something wrong. There’s a change needed.”
Most people don’t realize the stage of transcendence, Steinberg said. While they may see the spotlight, they don’t make a change. The once who reach transcendence, Steinberg said, “flip the switch.” They forgive the person who wronged them, they discover new strengths and harness them, and they realize their true talents or genius.
“They all realize that this is for a meaningful purpose,” Steinberg said of tragedy. “You may say it’s a blessing in disguise.”
These people who discover “transcend-ability” then put themselves on a new path, which might include founding a foundation or charity.
“Ultimately, the last stage of transcendence is when they live in their sweet spot,” Steinberg said. “They live in this perfect place now where they were always supposed to be. They give off this energy, because it’s not about themselves anymore; it’s about the common good. Life wounds can transform you to the place you were meant to be.”
Steinberg listed several people who are examples of having transcended tragedy. Nelson Mandela, who was a political prisoner for 27 years, didn’t just bounce back after his 1990 release. He went beyond that by bouncing back harder and becoming a universally respected leader.
“If Mandela had just bounced back, he would have gotten out of jail and become a lawyer,” Steinberg said.
Another example Steinberg cites is supermodel Petra Nemcova. She survived Thailand’s 2004 tsunami, which killed thousands (including her fiancé), then established the Happy Hearts Fund, a charity that helps countries shattered by natural disasters.
Yet another example is former Olympic distance runner Louis Zamperini, who survived a World War II plane crash only to become a Japanese war prisoner. He returned from the war a haunted man and began drinking heavily. But after Billy Graham inspired him, he converted to Christianity, forgave his captors and became an inspirational speaker.
“He has all this great energy,” Steinberg said of the 97-year-old veteran. “That’s why people gravitate toward him, because he’s transcended.”
Steinberg is keeping the title of his book a secret, but notes that it will be published by Christmas of this year. It will arrive in the nick of time. What a wonderful gift to give someone who has suffered tragedy – hope that they, too, can transcend beyond it.