The Dark Side of Grit: When Pushing Through Becomes Harmful
Grit is the combination of perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It has become a buzzword in recent years, especially in the world of sports. It’s celebrated as a superpower that can help athletes overcome adversity, endure tough training sessions, and reach peak performance. But what happens when we become so caught up in the idea of "grinding through" that we lose touch with something just as important: our own intuition and well-being?
While grit has undeniable benefits, there’s a darker side that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Let’s dive into the consequences of relying too heavily on grit, and what happens when our ability to dissociate from discomfort becomes a barrier to truly listening to ourselves.
Athletes are constantly pushed to their limits, and grit can be the difference between achieving personal bests and falling short. It’s what allows someone to endure painful training sessions, push through mental and physical exhaustion during competition, and stay determined and driven in long-term goals.
In many ways, grit feels like a superpower. It’s what makes an athlete stand out, demonstrating toughness and resilience. The problem with always glorifying grit is that it teaches athletes to value "pushing through" at all costs. This relentless focus on endurance can lead to dissociation, turning off our ability to listen to our bodies and emotions. This is where things can start to unravel.
While building grit is an incredibly valuable mental tool, as athletes, we must be more conscientious of the negative side effects. The ability to endure can lead to ignoring important pain signals. Pain is your body’s way of communicating that something may be wrong. By constantly pushing through discomfort, athletes may ignore early warning signs of injury, leading to more serious, long-term damage.
Grit encourages athletes to keep going, even when they’re mentally and physically drained. Constantly putting grit on a pedestal can lead to burnout, which is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. Where you begin to see major problems is in the disconnection from emotional well-being. Giving a pat on the back for toughness is a great way to reward hard work, that is until it inadvertently puts value on an athlete’s ability to suppress emotions, brush off stress, anxiety, or feelings of overwhelm.
Lastly, grit can dwindle the mind-body connection. When an athlete is hyper focused on pushing through challenges, they may lose the ability to listen to their body or trust their instinct.
Athletes are human beings, not machines. While grit helps them accomplish incredible feats, it can also strip away the ability to be fully present and in tune with their needs. Grit should never come at the expense of listening to your body, acknowledging your mental health, or recognizing your limits. When we glorify grit without balance, we create athletes who are experts at dissociating. Working with a mental performance consultant can help the athlete process stress in a healthy way. Working with a consultant also provides them a space outside of the home and field to learn and practice mental skills such as mindfulness. Mindfulness is shown to help athletes reconnect with their body’s signals and teach them to regularly check in with their mind.