You’ve seen them on mugs, posters, or Instagram captions — motivational quotes that sound inspiring but actually make it harder for you to navigate life.
Why? We found in our research study that having too much “grit” can make you less flexible and willing to change! (check out research here). While the intent might be positive, a lot of these phrases are simplifications that rely on toxic positivity and an overuse of perseverance instead of being adaptable.
Here’s the current Top 10 of our running list of all the phrases people use that keep us stuck to the path instead of pivoting:
“Never, never, never give up!”
“You can do anything you put your mind to”
“If you believe it you can achieve it”
“Look on the bright side”
“Things always work out for the best”
“If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen”
“Good vibes only”
“Life never gives you more than you can handle”
“Quitters never win”
“You only lose if you quit trying”
If you’ve spent your life hearing these assumptions about how success relies on perseverance and never giving up, no wonder it’s hard for you to change! No wonder you can sometimes struggle to adapt, innovate, and find a pivot!
Not only are all of these sayings influencing your own internal beliefs about persistence, but you’re also probably worried about other people’s expectations of you. You don’t want to let down your parents, bosses, colleagues, spouses, or kids. You don’t want to be the person who gets called a quitter.
For the rest of the week, do an experiment: see if you catch yourself or the people around you using these phrases. The more you notice, the more you can stop and wonder “are we being TOO gritty here? Is this an opportunity to change?”
What last-favorite “grit” phrases would you add to the list? What “motivational” sayings rub you the wrong way that you wish you could get rid of?
