This week I experienced the “not always welcomed” variety of
life by spending part of my week in the neurosurgery ICU unit at a local
hospital: something that I NEVER, EVER thought that I would be doing. I was not the patient. Someone that I love dearly had suffered a brain injury and I
needed to be there with my family.
Any time someone that you love is hospitalized with a serious illness it
is a shock to your system; fear and worry naturally follows.
As I sat in the bedside chair in the hospital room I was
able to observe the patients and their caregivers on the hospital ward. I was overcome with the feeling that all
of these people truly possessed extraordinary grit. Each individual was faced with a struggle that they were
working to overcome. The patients
were struggling to regain their normalcy and the caregivers were determined, through
their work, to help them get there.
I observed several patients with various levels of
impairment struggle to return to their world. They were suffering with memory loss, physical weakness and
confusion surrounding the setback that they were experiencing. The caregivers were patient,
compassionate and loving with the challenges that their daily work requires.
While I was there I had the privilege to talk to a Neurosurgical
resident in his 3rd, out of a seven-year residency. He had been through 4 years of
undergrad, 4 years of medical school and was now working towards becoming a
neurosurgeon by spending another 7 years as a resident. That, my friends is an
individual with grit! We talked about the patient, his neurosurgical training
and then about his diabetic dog.
Yes, even in the Neuro-ICU doctors ask a veterinarian about their dogs. (It happened more than once)
Grit is defined as courage, resolve, and strength of
character. It is a real predictor of our success. Success in work and in life
does not depend on your superior IQ or your ability to learn easily. It has more to do with the fact that
you are willing to work hard and never give up. There are many people who have superior intelligence, tools,
and opportunity but do not follow through on commitments. Ever hear of a
neurosurgeon that quit after his first year of medical school? I didn’t think so.
How can we develop our grit?
Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology and grit
researcher says, “Where talents count once, effort counts twice.” She explains that when you apply effort
to talent, you develop skill. When
you apply effort to skill, you get achievement.
Angela says that there are ways to develop your grit, which
include, developing a passion, practicing your skills, staying hopeful and
surrounding yourself with gritty people.
Most veterinary
professionals understand passion - in fact we went into this profession because
of our passion for medicine and animals. Working on and practicing our veterinary skills is something
that we all do daily as we work with our clients and teams. In order to remain
hopeful we have to take responsibility that tomorrow will be better, because we
will MAKE it better. Our own
efforts for the future will provide a better future. Finally we need to surround ourselves with good people
- and who better to be around than veterinary teams? Veterinarians are some of the most kind, caring and determined
people in the world. We stick to
our goals despite daily adversity.
Remember that grit can be developed and nurtured in your
life to help you to reach every goal or dream.
Whatever it is that you want to do, develop
your grit and you will achieve.
Dr. Julie Cappel
“At various points, in big ways and small, we get knocked
down. If we stay down, grit
loses. If we get up, grit
prevails.” Angela Duckworth“
“Humans are creatures of habit. If you quiet when things get
tough, it gets that much easier to quit the next time. On the other hand, if you force
yourself to push through it, the grit begins to grow in you.” Travis Bradberry
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