Harmony Deconstructed Podcast

Sleep is a cardinal requirement for us as human beings to function optimally. If we are sleep deprived, then many if not all of our bodily functions suffer. We become irritable, we make many errors and in the long run our health gets affected negatively.

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” ~ Irish proverb

In various circles, sleep can easily be associated with laziness. I think this is so if it is overdone. Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer said “Sleep is not a waste of time. During sleep, a variety of biological processes take place that restore our bodies and minds.” I think when you look at it critically, there is no human being who can operate without sleep for a continuous period beyond 24 hours without it causing some serious effects to their well-being. 

Sleep is crucial but it is beneficial to ensure that by the time you sleep, your affairs are in order. Ensure that within the 24 hours allotted to you, as it is allotted to everyone, you have attended to all matters you need to. I know this is not easy to do, but it is a worthy habit to develop by all means. There are a number of references in the Scriptures to illustrate this point. In the book of Matthew 25, is written the story of the ten bridesmaids. Five were wise and five were foolish. The five who were foolish did not take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘we don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 

But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ Although this story was told by Jesus to sensitize his disciples to be prepared for his unknown time of return, I think it also illustrates the importance of leaving your affairs in order before sleeping as did the wise bridesmaids. In Ephesians 4:26 we get this warning “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” So in essence, we should deal with any issues that have caused us to be angry and sort them out before going to bed. This is best. 

Speaking of the sun going down, I recall early last year watching a YouTube Video in which they described the circadian rhythm of sleep. Apparently, this is a system that runs in the background of our brain and body like a built in 24 hour clock. It is attuned to the day and night cycle. It dictates when we should be awake and when we should fall asleep. It is regulated by exposure to daylight and is meant to coincide with the natural patterns of the 24 hour day. This system works best when one has a regular bedtime and wake up time, that is going to bed when it is dark and waking up when it gets bright.  The video describes how the setting of the sun and the evening darkness signals the production of melatonin which is the sleep hormone. Scientists claim that the sleep hormone starts building up in the evening and is highest at 12am. The melatonin levels start increasing roughly 2 to 3 hours after sunset, which is when your body signals it is time to sleep. 

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should ensure that we have ample sleep for our bodies to regenerate and get fresh supply of energy to keep going the following day.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Sleep is a cardinal requirement for us as human beings to function optimally. If we are sleep deprived, then many if not all of our bodily functions suffer. We become irritable, we make many errors and in the long run our health gets affected negatively.

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” ~ Irish proverb

In various circles, sleep can easily be associated with laziness. I think this is so if it is overdone. Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer said “Sleep is not a waste of time. During sleep, a variety of biological processes take place that restore our bodies and minds.” I think when you look at it critically, there is no human being who can operate without sleep for a continuous period beyond 24 hours without it causing some serious effects to their well-being. 

Sleep is crucial but it is beneficial to ensure that by the time you sleep, your affairs are in order. Ensure that within the 24 hours allotted to you, as it is allotted to everyone, you have attended to all matters you need to. I know this is not easy to do, but it is a worthy habit to develop by all means. There are a number of references in the Scriptures to illustrate this point. In the book of Matthew 25, is written the story of the ten bridesmaids. Five were wise and five were foolish. The five who were foolish did not take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘we don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 

But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ Although this story was told by Jesus to sensitize his disciples to be prepared for his unknown time of return, I think it also illustrates the importance of leaving your affairs in order before sleeping as did the wise bridesmaids. In Ephesians 4:26 we get this warning “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” So in essence, we should deal with any issues that have caused us to be angry and sort them out before going to bed. This is best. 

Speaking of the sun going down, I recall early last year watching a YouTube Video in which they described the circadian rhythm of sleep. Apparently, this is a system that runs in the background of our brain and body like a built in 24 hour clock. It is attuned to the day and night cycle. It dictates when we should be awake and when we should fall asleep. It is regulated by exposure to daylight and is meant to coincide with the natural patterns of the 24 hour day. This system works best when one has a regular bedtime and wake up time, that is going to bed when it is dark and waking up when it gets bright.  The video describes how the setting of the sun and the evening darkness signals the production of melatonin which is the sleep hormone. Scientists claim that the sleep hormone starts building up in the evening and is highest at 12am. The melatonin levels start increasing roughly 2 to 3 hours after sunset, which is when your body signals it is time to sleep. 

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should ensure that we have ample sleep for our bodies to regenerate and get fresh supply of energy to keep going the following day.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Rest is crucial for us to function optimally as human beings. In modern society, there exists that feeling of wanting to keep going, to keep working and to be busy every hour of the day when we are awake. 

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.” Ovid, Roman Poet

I recently learnt that there are seven types of rest. Oftentimes we may focus on one kind of rest, however, we may end up still tired after resting. That is an indication that we may be neglecting several of the other kinds of rest that are necessary for us to feel fully recharged. Physician and author Saundra Dalton-Smith talks about these seven kinds of rest:

1. Physical rest - this can be both passive or active. Passive rest includes sleep or a nap. Active rest involves doing restorative activities that reinvigorate the body such as yoga, massages and stretches. These help improve circulation within and flexibility of the body.
2. Mental rest - when there is so much to process mentally, and especially when we do so non stop for a long time, our minds get exhausted. One then becomes irritable, forgetful, lacks concentration, they are restless and may lack sleep or if one sleeps, they wake up still tired. For rest, schedule ample short breaks throughout the day. One can also keep a notebook or notepad to capture any thoughts buzzing in the mind throughout the day. 
3. Sensory rest - sensory exhaustion can be caused by excessive exposure to bright lights, computer or mobile phone screens, loud noises, background noises or conversations in the work area where one is trying to concentrate. These can be mitigated by shutting the eyes for a while, eye massage, switching off or unplugging electronics at the end of the day.
4. Creative rest - this happens when you take time to enjoy nature, places that invite you to have a sense of awe, peace, and calmness. Visiting such places as parks, an ocean, a waterfall, hiking up a hill or mountain can be quite refreshing. It also involves enjoying works of art. This rest is crucial for people who spend time brainstorming and solving problems. Taking this rest can give you fresh ideas or invigorate you to find solutions to the issues concerning you. 
5. Emotional rest - we may get emotionally exhausted through some encounters we have either at home or at the workplace. It does also happen when we have a difficult situation in our lives. To get this rest, you need to confide in someone. It could be a family member, friend or someone willing to listen to you and you can talk about what is going on. Sometimes listening to calming or reassuring music has worked for me in these kinds of circumstances. 
6. Social rest - socializing can be exhausting at times. There are people that naturally can exhaust you while you interact with them and there are those who can energize you. To get this rest, you need to deliberately get times with the people who energize you. These are people you feel at ease around. You can talk, laugh and just be. 
7. Spiritual rest - when you feel aloof, alone and unanchored you may need this rest. This involves taking time to connect with God, meditation, prayer and doing something meaningful for the benefit of others. This gives one a deep sense of love, acceptance, belonging and purpose. 

To get ample rest, Dalton-Smith says we need to incorporate most if not all these forms of rest in our lives. If you evaluate yourself, you may need more of a certain type of rest than another depending on which you have a deficit in.

There are warning signs that a person could be having burnout. They are as follow: A negative or critical attitude, trouble sleeping, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, headaches, nausea, and backaches, numbness or emptiness and difficulty performing your usual tasks.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Rest is crucial for us to function optimally as human beings. In modern society, there exists that feeling of wanting to keep going, to keep working and to be busy every hour of the day when we are awake. 

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.” Ovid, Roman Poet

I recently learnt that there are seven types of rest. Oftentimes we may focus on one kind of rest, however, we may end up still tired after resting. That is an indication that we may be neglecting several of the other kinds of rest that are necessary for us to feel fully recharged. Physician and author Saundra Dalton-Smith talks about these seven kinds of rest:

1. Physical rest - this can be both passive or active. Passive rest includes sleep or a nap. Active rest involves doing restorative activities that reinvigorate the body such as yoga, massages and stretches. These help improve circulation within and flexibility of the body.
2. Mental rest - when there is so much to process mentally, and especially when we do so non stop for a long time, our minds get exhausted. One then becomes irritable, forgetful, lacks concentration, they are restless and may lack sleep or if one sleeps, they wake up still tired. For rest, schedule ample short breaks throughout the day. One can also keep a notebook or notepad to capture any thoughts buzzing in the mind throughout the day. 
3. Sensory rest - sensory exhaustion can be caused by excessive exposure to bright lights, computer or mobile phone screens, loud noises, background noises or conversations in the work area where one is trying to concentrate. These can be mitigated by shutting the eyes for a while, eye massage, switching off or unplugging electronics at the end of the day.
4. Creative rest - this happens when you take time to enjoy nature, places that invite you to have a sense of awe, peace, and calmness. Visiting such places as parks, an ocean, a waterfall, hiking up a hill or mountain can be quite refreshing. It also involves enjoying works of art. This rest is crucial for people who spend time brainstorming and solving problems. Taking this rest can give you fresh ideas or invigorate you to find solutions to the issues concerning you. 
5. Emotional rest - we may get emotionally exhausted through some encounters we have either at home or at the workplace. It does also happen when we have a difficult situation in our lives. To get this rest, you need to confide in someone. It could be a family member, friend or someone willing to listen to you and you can talk about what is going on. Sometimes listening to calming or reassuring music has worked for me in these kinds of circumstances. 
6. Social rest - socializing can be exhausting at times. There are people that naturally can exhaust you while you interact with them and there are those who can energize you. To get this rest, you need to deliberately get times with the people who energize you. These are people you feel at ease around. You can talk, laugh and just be. 
7. Spiritual rest - when you feel aloof, alone and unanchored you may need this rest. This involves taking time to connect with God, meditation, prayer and doing something meaningful for the benefit of others. This gives one a deep sense of love, acceptance, belonging and purpose. 

To get ample rest, Dalton-Smith says we need to incorporate most if not all these forms of rest in our lives. If you evaluate yourself, you may need more of a certain type of rest than another depending on which you have a deficit in.

There are warning signs that a person could be having burnout. They are as follow: A negative or critical attitude, trouble sleeping, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, headaches, nausea, and backaches, numbness or emptiness and difficulty performing your usual tasks.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Regret is part of the human condition, however with appropriate action, discipline and fortitude, we can reduce the effects of its sting. 

“Nembe ngamanya yadadua nanyuma” “The statement ‘I wish I knew’ always comes at the tail end of an occurrence” Taita proverb.

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we need to take action now to avoid the pain of regret later in life. We should take action in important areas of our lives such as our health, family, friends, love of God and others, and enhancing the things we are passionate about like our talents or hobbies, things we value. 
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. So said  Sidney J. Harris

I have experienced this pain of regret in a couple of areas in my life. I grew up listening to music and was amazed at how the musicians played the music pieces I listened to. I wondered from an early age if I would ever be able to play the guitar. I had two clear opportunities to learn playing the guitar that I failed to explore as a teenager. One day, I was going to visit my grandmother, who lived about half an hour up the hill from our home. On my way there, I passed by the local shopping centre to meet some friends and gather the latest news in the village.

After a while, I was ready to continue with my journey. A few metres ahead of me was a gentleman heading in the same direction. He was one of the most talented guitarists in our village. He played the guitar so melodiously to the delight of many. He played in church on Sundays and during special events organized occasionally to sensitize people on various matters. I hastened my steps, even jogged a bit to catch up with him so that we could walk together. I recall we had a conversation about life generally and more so about faith. I recall thinking to myself “here I am walking and talking with this skilled guitarist, I should ask him about how I could learn to play like him”. However, for some reason, I held back from asking the important question: how can I learn to play the guitar like you? Instead, I let the conversation continue on other subjects, important as they were, but led to a different outcome. As way leads to way, we got to my grandmother’s place. We parted ways and the gentleman went on his way to his home which was some metres further on. And that was my chance at learning guitar from this talented player that went begging. 

The second opportunity I had was of another guitarist who literally stayed next door to me for a while. You see, he was hired by my uncle to do some work and he lived there for a year or more. He played the guitar so well. He even told us that he used to play with one of the famous bands in East Africa in the 80s by the name Les Wanyika. We couldn’t verify this assertion but what was clear was that the guy was a talented guitarist. He played in our local church every Sunday much to the amazement of the congregation. So here he was, living next door, I admired his craft. Yet, I did not ask to learn from him. And just like that, after a while, he was gone and so did the opportunity to learn guitar playing from him. 

 Many years later, I have the opportunity to learn. What with the internet with many guitar teachers. I have learnt how to play a bit - as evidenced by the introductory tune to this episode - and I continue to practice to get better.   This is one of those things in my list that I wouldn’t want to regret in the future, that I did not take time to learn to play the guitar. So not all hope is lost at least in this example. And that is the hope we have, as long as you are alive, there are things you can still do to minimize the sting of regret. 

  “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.” Jim Rohn

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Regret is part of the human condition, however with appropriate action, discipline and fortitude, we can reduce the effects of its sting. 

“Nembe ngamanya yadadua nanyuma” “The statement ‘I wish I knew’ always comes at the tail end of an occurrence” Taita proverb.

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we need to take action now to avoid the pain of regret later in life. We should take action in important areas of our lives such as our health, family, friends, love of God and others, and enhancing the things we are passionate about like our talents or hobbies, things we value. 
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. So said  Sidney J. Harris

I have experienced this pain of regret in a couple of areas in my life. I grew up listening to music and was amazed at how the musicians played the music pieces I listened to. I wondered from an early age if I would ever be able to play the guitar. I had two clear opportunities to learn playing the guitar that I failed to explore as a teenager. One day, I was going to visit my grandmother, who lived about half an hour up the hill from our home. On my way there, I passed by the local shopping centre to meet some friends and gather the latest news in the village.

After a while, I was ready to continue with my journey. A few metres ahead of me was a gentleman heading in the same direction. He was one of the most talented guitarists in our village. He played the guitar so melodiously to the delight of many. He played in church on Sundays and during special events organized occasionally to sensitize people on various matters. I hastened my steps, even jogged a bit to catch up with him so that we could walk together. I recall we had a conversation about life generally and more so about faith. I recall thinking to myself “here I am walking and talking with this skilled guitarist, I should ask him about how I could learn to play like him”. However, for some reason, I held back from asking the important question: how can I learn to play the guitar like you? Instead, I let the conversation continue on other subjects, important as they were, but led to a different outcome. As way leads to way, we got to my grandmother’s place. We parted ways and the gentleman went on his way to his home which was some metres further on. And that was my chance at learning guitar from this talented player that went begging. 

The second opportunity I had was of another guitarist who literally stayed next door to me for a while. You see, he was hired by my uncle to do some work and he lived there for a year or more. He played the guitar so well. He even told us that he used to play with one of the famous bands in East Africa in the 80s by the name Les Wanyika. We couldn’t verify this assertion but what was clear was that the guy was a talented guitarist. He played in our local church every Sunday much to the amazement of the congregation. So here he was, living next door, I admired his craft. Yet, I did not ask to learn from him. And just like that, after a while, he was gone and so did the opportunity to learn guitar playing from him. 

 Many years later, I have the opportunity to learn. What with the internet with many guitar teachers. I have learnt how to play a bit - as evidenced by the introductory tune to this episode - and I continue to practice to get better.   This is one of those things in my list that I wouldn’t want to regret in the future, that I did not take time to learn to play the guitar. So not all hope is lost at least in this example. And that is the hope we have, as long as you are alive, there are things you can still do to minimize the sting of regret. 

  “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.” Jim Rohn

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

“True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.” Sinclair B. Ferguson

Discernment is important for proper decision making and especially when we get to crossroads. You need to make a choice at that point. Do you go right, do you go left or do you stand and wait a while at the same spot before taking another step? This decision depends on the prevailing circumstances, the resources at your disposal and the goals you are aspiring to achieve. There is a famous poem by Robert Frost that a mentor of mine had shared with me some years back. It paints this picture of making a decision in a cross road so well:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

 

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

 
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 Discernment is also crucial when making decisions about the priorities in our lives. It could be the priorities for the day, for the week, for the month, for the year and for your entire life. What are the most important things for you to accomplish? This is a decision that is as personal as it can be. If we prioritize the less important things, in the long run, the outcome of our lives will be quite different from what it could have been. 

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should utilize discernment in our decision making. It will aid us in making the appropriate decisions in the various circumstances we find ourselves in as we journey through life and while we strive to achieve the meaningful goals that we are pursuing.

Discernment is crucial when we have to ascertain the correct idea to go with or the correct action to take between two or more compelling ones. As a parting shot, consider what Charles Spurgeon said “discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

“True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.” Sinclair B. Ferguson

Discernment is important for proper decision making and especially when we get to crossroads. You need to make a choice at that point. Do you go right, do you go left or do you stand and wait a while at the same spot before taking another step? This decision depends on the prevailing circumstances, the resources at your disposal and the goals you are aspiring to achieve. There is a famous poem by Robert Frost that a mentor of mine had shared with me some years back. It paints this picture of making a decision in a cross road so well:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

 

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

 
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 Discernment is also crucial when making decisions about the priorities in our lives. It could be the priorities for the day, for the week, for the month, for the year and for your entire life. What are the most important things for you to accomplish? This is a decision that is as personal as it can be. If we prioritize the less important things, in the long run, the outcome of our lives will be quite different from what it could have been. 

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should utilize discernment in our decision making. It will aid us in making the appropriate decisions in the various circumstances we find ourselves in as we journey through life and while we strive to achieve the meaningful goals that we are pursuing.

Discernment is crucial when we have to ascertain the correct idea to go with or the correct action to take between two or more compelling ones. As a parting shot, consider what Charles Spurgeon said “discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Papo kwa papo kamba hukata jiwe - Swahili proverb (The constant rubbing of a rope will cut the stone)

Grit is defined in Oxford Learners Dictionary as “the courage and strength of mind that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant.”It is the sustained application of effort towards achieving a long term goal. This is the ability to persevere and keep going in the face of challenges or obstacles. It does not matter how many times one gets down, as long as you pick yourself up and keep moving, putting one leg in front of the other, as they say, one step at a time until you realize the worthy goal you were aiming for. This is grit. 

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should persevere in the pursuit of our purposeful goals, have the discernment to know when to change strategies that are not working and to keep at it until we attain the goal. 

Like any other trait, grit or perseverance can be learned and made to grow in us through practice. I think life has been designed in such a way that we get opportunities on a daily basis to grow in our perseverance or to be gritty if you may. This is true for us human beings and it can also be observed in nature. 

Researchers have indicated that grit is one of the most important predictors of success. Angela Duckworth has done research on grit, why some individuals in similar circumstances tend to succeed while others don’t.  In her book Grit:the power of passion and perseverance, she states that what people end up achieving may depend more on their passion and perseverance than on innate talent. While notably it is not the only factor, she found grit to be a stronger predictor of high achievement compared to others like talent, intelligence and personality traits. This is the reason why, according to Duckworth, grit is so important. She suggested four ways of cultivating grit:

1. Developing a fascination about the things you do.
2. Aiming at daily improvement.
3. Having a greater purpose for what you do.
4. Having hope that things will get better if you encounter a challenge. Maintaining a growth mindset, getting better each day at what you are doing.

A warning is imperative here. It is not wise to keep forging ahead if a strategy we are using is clearly or demonstrably not working. As they say if you find yourself in a hole, the best thing is to stop digging. This requires discernment to be aware when a goal is clearly unattainable and that changing course is the best option. It is therefore important to apply grit but with the wisdom on where to apply it. As Confucius said “Perseverance is not the only ingredient to winning. You can stalk a field forever and not get any game if the field does not contain any.”

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should have grit and persevere towards achieving the purposeful goals we are pursuing. We should do so with the wisdom of knowing when to change strategies or even goals, when the strategies we are using are not working or the goals we are aiming for are realistically unattainable. 

I conclude with this quote from Jacob A. Riis “Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” 

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/harmony-deconstructed-podcast/donations

Papo kwa papo kamba hukata jiwe - Swahili proverb (The constant rubbing of a rope will cut the stone)

Grit is defined in Oxford Learners Dictionary as “the courage and strength of mind that makes it possible for somebody to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant.”It is the sustained application of effort towards achieving a long term goal. This is the ability to persevere and keep going in the face of challenges or obstacles. It does not matter how many times one gets down, as long as you pick yourself up and keep moving, putting one leg in front of the other, as they say, one step at a time until you realize the worthy goal you were aiming for. This is grit. 

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should persevere in the pursuit of our purposeful goals, have the discernment to know when to change strategies that are not working and to keep at it until we attain the goal. 

Like any other trait, grit or perseverance can be learned and made to grow in us through practice. I think life has been designed in such a way that we get opportunities on a daily basis to grow in our perseverance or to be gritty if you may. This is true for us human beings and it can also be observed in nature. 

Researchers have indicated that grit is one of the most important predictors of success. Angela Duckworth has done research on grit, why some individuals in similar circumstances tend to succeed while others don’t.  In her book Grit:the power of passion and perseverance, she states that what people end up achieving may depend more on their passion and perseverance than on innate talent. While notably it is not the only factor, she found grit to be a stronger predictor of high achievement compared to others like talent, intelligence and personality traits. This is the reason why, according to Duckworth, grit is so important. She suggested four ways of cultivating grit:

1. Developing a fascination about the things you do.
2. Aiming at daily improvement.
3. Having a greater purpose for what you do.
4. Having hope that things will get better if you encounter a challenge. Maintaining a growth mindset, getting better each day at what you are doing.

A warning is imperative here. It is not wise to keep forging ahead if a strategy we are using is clearly or demonstrably not working. As they say if you find yourself in a hole, the best thing is to stop digging. This requires discernment to be aware when a goal is clearly unattainable and that changing course is the best option. It is therefore important to apply grit but with the wisdom on where to apply it. As Confucius said “Perseverance is not the only ingredient to winning. You can stalk a field forever and not get any game if the field does not contain any.”

For us to live an inspired harmonious life, we should have grit and persevere towards achieving the purposeful goals we are pursuing. We should do so with the wisdom of knowing when to change strategies or even goals, when the strategies we are using are not working or the goals we are aiming for are realistically unattainable. 

I conclude with this quote from Jacob A. Riis “Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” 

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