Grit or Grace.
I’ve been obsessed with this theme all year as I navigated an unprecedented series of life events. And I've felt grateful at every turn for having witnessed my clients wrestle with it over the last two decades.
Usually, an individual leans far more heavily in one direction or the other: “Look at what I accomplished!” (Grit) or “Look what ____ did for me!” (Grace)
But as we begin to dig into the details of their story, they find a more whole narrative:
There was clearly a rescue mission orchestrated by divine Grace—the right people showed up at the perfect time, doors opened where there were previously walls, spoken and even silent prayers were answered.
But it was their human Grit that noticed the right people at the right time and leaned into the wonderful or challenging interactions, conversations, and lessons offered through them.
It was their human Grit that noticed the open door and courageously stepped through it, even when generational stories, present-life traumas, and all of the identities and roles they formed to survive the world made their feet heavy as lead.
It was their human Grit that realized their own limits and asked for help.
Today…
On this holiday focused on gratitude in which I’ve always leaned more toward Grace (“Thank You, Co-author, for all of the blessings of this year and my life…”)
I’m going to add the balance of the narrative this year, “Thank you, Amanda, for leaning into the excruciating type of grit this year. For letting go of performer and producer. For surrendering to ancient emotions and hundreds of hours of sleep and story required to process them. For showing up for people in the ways you still could. For trusting that this is only a season.”
And then I’m going to invite you to do the same.
If your go-to-gratitude is Grit, “I’m so grateful that I did…” then maybe let your mind drift to the synchronistic moments and meetings that called forth and made way for that Grit.
If your go-to-gratitude is Grace, “I’m so grateful for all that was bestowed…” then maybe let your mind wander to the moments between when you made good on the Grace with your action (or inaction, if you had a year like mine).
You are worthy of thanks too.
p.s. At Saved By Story, we're hosting a "co-author in community" event in January. Check out the details below and let me know if you'd like to join us! |
