Grit vs. Resilience: What It Means for Your Mental Health
There is an intriguing conundrum in humanity that all social workers and mental healthcare practitioners have witnessed firsthand or conceptualized in their personal lives. You may have experienced it as well. This phenomenon cannot be easily studied or measured, and no one definitively knows why some people exhibit more grit and resilience than others, or in what contexts. The definitions of these traits are complex and challenging to pinpoint due to factors such as subjectivity, cultural variations, values, environment, genetics, and brain chemistry—all the elements that make us individuals. Yet, the fascinating anomaly of grit and resilience is arguably a significant determining factor in how well we function in this intense, wonderful, painful, exciting, and challenging world. They may also influence your ability to find joy in life, as well as your overall mental and physical well-being. My journey to becoming a therapist involved exposure to various arenas of service and advocac...