When we think of grit, we often picture sweat-drenched athletes pushing through pain, grinding through tough practices, or fighting for that last point. But the true essence of grit? It runs deeper than the scoreboard, deeper than the highlight reel. Grit is about heart. It's about what happens after the injury, the loss, the benching, or the season-ending blow.
For athletes, setbacks are part of the game. You lose. You get injured. You fall short. You wonder if you’re good enough. And for student-athletes, that struggle is amplified—balancing classes, practices, social life, mental health, and the pressure to perform. The weight can be real. So, what keeps you going?
What is Grit?
Grit is the decision to show up the day after a tough loss—not just to train harder, but to reflect deeper. It’s the moment when you’re sidelined by an injury, and instead of spiraling, you learn to breathe, to trust the process, to rebuild from within. It’s accepting that your worth isn’t only tied to your performance, but to your character, your heart, your willingness to grow.
Grit is learning that rest is part of resilience. That it takes more courage to slow down and heal than it does to pretend you're fine. That true toughness doesn’t mean stuffing down your emotions, it means feeling them, moving through them, and using them as fuel.
We often think grit is about going harder. But sometimes, grit is about becoming wiser. It’s recognizing that mental, emotional, and spiritual health are just as crucial as physical strength. And when you approach your sport from a holistic lens—caring for your whole self—you unlock a whole new level of power.
Grit isn't just what you do when things go well. It's who you become when things fall apart.
It’s choosing growth over defeat. Grace over judgment. Purpose over pressure.
And that kind of grit? That’s unshakable.
How to Strengthen Grit Holistically
1. Reflect on Your “Why.”
When the going gets tough, your deeper purpose is your anchor. Take time to journal or meditate on why you show up every day. Is it for the love of the game? The community? The version of yourself you’re becoming?
2. Embrace Failure as a Teacher.
Instead of fearing setbacks, learn to study them. What did that loss teach you? What patterns came up during that injury or slump? Grit grows when you stop fearing failure and start seeing it as feedback.
3. Practice Mental Resilience.
Techniques like breathwork, visualization, and mindfulness train your mind just like reps in the gym train your body. A calm mind can see clearly, recover faster, and act with intention, even under pressure.
4. Build a Recovery Routine.
Sleep, nutrition, rest, and emotional release aren't luxuries—they’re necessities for sustained grit. Holistic recovery keeps your nervous system regulated so you can bounce back stronger.
5. Surround Yourself With People Who See You.
The road is easier when you’re not walking it alone. Coaches, teammates, mentors—let them support you. Let them remind you of who you are when you forget.
6. Stay Compassionate With Yourself.
Grit is not self-punishment. True grit includes grace. Speak to yourself like you would a teammate you love. The tone you take with yourself matters.
Final Thought
In the end, grit isn’t about being invincible, it’s about being real. It’s choosing to keep showing up, not just with strength, but with intention, compassion, and courage. When you honor every part of yourself - mind, body, and spirit - you don’t just survive the setbacks, you grow through them. That’s what turns athletes into leaders, and challenges into chapters of strength. Grit isn’t the absence of struggle, it’s how you rise in the middle of it. And that rise? That’s where your power lives.
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Sincerely,
Chelsea McGee, RN, BSN, NC-BC
Atlas Health Co.
https://www.atlashealthco.com/
Chelsea is a registered nurse and Board-Certified Integrative Health & Wellness Coach who helps student athletes achieve mind-body balance for peak performance and lasting wellness. With advanced training in holistic health, she supports teens in building resilience, managing stress, and staying connected to their inner strength - on and off the field.