POTD 2017/309. Ensign Angie Marie Lewis

“Some of us are fearful to step out and chase what seems unreachable. Some of us are go-getters, always making progress toward our long- and short-term goals no matter what our right-now looks like. But we often live within the tension of pursuing our dreams and being content. It is often not the influences and attitudes of those around us that keep us from becoming what we are capable of. It is our acceptance of their truth, the belief in their value. It is allowing ourselves to become a victim to their opinions. It is also our commitment to the tasks ahead that confines us to those tensions.

“I challenge those who are imprisoned by their fears and self-doubts to find your Grit. Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and author of ‘The Power of Passion and Perseverance’ describes Grit as ‘distinct combination of passion, resilience, determination, and focus that allows a person to maintain the discipline and optimism to persevere in their goals even in the face of discomfort, rejection, and a lack of visible progress for years, or even decades.

“Transitions can feel like they are taking a long time, and we start to question what we’re doing. You may feel like things are out of your control, but YOU can determine your response during a transition . . .

"When I look back on transition times in my life, the thing that stands out to me is that I made it through them—sometimes limping, sometimes thriving, but through it nevertheless. I didn’t stay there. I didn’t get permanently stuck. I made the choice to keep going.”