Huffington Post
I recently came across the incredible story of Jen Bricker. Born with no legs, Bricker fulfilled her dream of becoming a professional acrobat despite her disability and all the odds that come with that. Today, she’s training to become a dancer and tours the United States as a motivational speaker.
What is her secret? Self-confidence. Bricker was raised in a household where she was not allowed to say the word ‘can’t.’
By definition, self-confidence is the belief in your ability to accomplish the task at hand. In Bricker’s case, that belief was never questioned or doubted but rather nurtured by the closest people to her, her family, hence her strong belief in herself. That belief enabled her not only to disregard her physical disability but also to compete against able-bodied people and win a state championship.
That is taking self-confidence to the next level and following through on one’s dreams against all odds. That is grit. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth defines grit as passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. “Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in day out,” she says in her popular TED talk.
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