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22 12, 2017

Leading Edge: Growing Gritty Teens

By |2017-12-22T15:30:20-05:00December 22, 2017|Grit|

People who develop grit from an early age are more persistent and resilient in achieving their goals than people who are not. Dr. Caren Baruch Feldman, a clinical psychologist and expert on grit, provides strategies for coaches, group leaders, and parents on how to help teens grow their grit and set themselves up for success in every aspect of their lives. Her most recent book is The Grit Guide for Teens, a workbook designed to help teens develop perseverance, self-control, and a growth mindset. Overview of Grit My definition of grit is based on Dr. Angela Duckworth’s definition. Dr. Angela [...]

15 08, 2017

Huff Post: The Secret Recipe for Growing Your Grit

By |2017-08-15T18:31:21-04:00August 15, 2017|Grit|

Being gritty, having self-control in the face of temptations, and rebounding from failure are not easy. However, there are ways that we know from science that makes it easier for us to have stick-to-it-ness. The question is what are some ways that can put you in the driver’s seat as opposed to being driven by your temptations?

16 05, 2017

MAY BLOG: Persee the Perseverant Puppy

By |2017-05-16T20:16:03-04:00May 16, 2017|Children/Adolescents, Grit, Resilience|

It is the second day of the state math test at Harrison Avenue Elementary School in Westchester County, New York. Persee, the perseverant puppy mascot, sits on top of the smart board in a third grade classroom, a reminder to students of the instruction they have been given throughout the school year that “perseverance pays off!” When faced with a challenging question, Persee reminds these third graders to exhibit an optimistic mindset, use flexible strategies in the face of obstacles, and to treat themselves with kindness and compassion. What is happening at Harrison Avenue, the elementary school where I work [...]

26 04, 2017

BLOG (APRIL) What I Learned About Grit from Writing a Book on Grit

By |2021-01-28T04:42:28-05:00April 26, 2017|Grit|

It’s 5:00 AM. I stumble out of bed and try to leave my bedroom quietly so I won’t wake my husband. Half asleep and desperately in need of my first cup of coffee, I open my computer and wait for the words to flow. On most days, it is hard work. (By the way, the words for this blog are not coming so quickly either.) Nevertheless, I am up against a deadline for my first book, The Grit Guide for Teens: A Workbook to Help You Build Perseverance, Self-Control, and a Growth Mindset, and it's not going to write itself. [...]

26 03, 2017

BLOG (March) Other People Matter for Happiness

By |2017-03-26T19:30:38-04:00March 26, 2017|Children/Adolescents, Grit, Parenting, Teens|

“Other People Matter”- Chris Peterson March 20th was The International Day of Happiness. In celebration, throughout the month of March, I received emails sharing ways to increase my happiness. What struck me was that none of the emails suggested buying a pair of expensive shoes or a box of chocolates. Instead, the focus, and rightly so, was on what Positive Psychologist, Chris Peterson, meant by saying, “Other People Matter.” By making other people matter, happiness in the truest and deepest sense of the word is achieved.  When I think about what truly makes me “happy” and gives life meaning, it [...]

20 02, 2017

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Got Grit? Got Marshmallows? Increasing Self– Control and Resilience in the Lives of Our Children: Part 1

By |2017-02-20T21:31:12-05:00February 20, 2017|Children/Adolescents, Grit|

I was asked recently to re-post the following blog. Enjoy :) Imagine twenty-five second graders sitting at their desks with a marshmallow in front of them, but NO ONE eats it. What is going on? Second graders at Harrison Avenue are working on self-control. But, how did they do it? The second graders had the benefit of learning some self-control strategies from an old friend, cookie monster. Dr. Walter Mischel in his book, The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self-Control discusses his famous marshmallow test. In his original test, conducted nearly 50 years ago, preschoolers were given a choice, one marshmallow now [...]

6 01, 2017

BLOG (JANUARY): Happy New Year!

By |2021-01-28T04:43:28-05:00January 6, 2017|Grit, Wellness & Weight Loss|

It’s that time of year when people reflect and set “new goals” or “New Year’s resolutions” for themselves. As you can imagine, it is easy to make New Year’s resolutions, but much more difficult to complete them. When I reflect on the goals that I have been able to maintain or the goals my patients have been able to achieve, the following three strategies were most effective. 1. Make it Positive. The best way to accomplish a goal is to operate from a place of “yes” rather than from a place of “no.” To see how this is true, try [...]

19 11, 2016

BLOG: (November): Being Grateful

By |2016-11-19T20:11:30-05:00November 19, 2016|Children/Adolescents, Grit|

It’s that’s time of year (Thanksgiving), when many of us take a moment to focus on what we are grateful for. For as long as I can remember, it has been a tradition in my family that my mother goes around the Thanksgiving table and asks each of us (grown-ups and kids) what we are grateful for. For a long time, this question elicited some eye rolling by me, even though I should have been past eye rolling. Why does focusing on what we grateful for often bring out the cynics in us and, more importantly, what can we do [...]