The two traits that trailblazers require, which we will focus on today, are adaptability and grit.
Adaptability
This quote by Anthony D’Angelo, well-known author and speaker, explains why adaptability is critical for us: “Become a student of change. It is the only thing that will remain constant.”[1]
Change is a natural part of our lives. We should expect change, and know that we are responsible for the way in which we adapt to it.
I read an article by a Swedish research institute containing fascinating findings regarding human cells and the fact that, on a cellular level, we are constantly changing. In fact, every second, about a million of our cells die. Don’t panic, though! These cells are replaced by new cells all the time. They explain the death of old cells and the creation of new cells the following way: “Cell death is a completely natural part of the body’s recycling of cellular building blocks and it is actually a precondition for life.”[2]
They explain that it is when problems surface in the cell death process, that health problems occur. For instance, we get cancer when cells refuse to die and grow into a tumour. In Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the opposite happens: cells that are not supposed to die, start dying.
In other words, on a cellular level, the manner in which our bodies find a way of disposing of the old, and welcoming the new, the healthier we will be.
Similarly, as we learn how to adapt meaningfully to the constant changes that life brings, we position ourselves for progress and bearing fruit.
Speaking of bearing fruit: aren’t trees also a great example of adaptability? Trees have built-in ways to survive all seasons. The better trees find ways adapting to varying conditions, the better their chances of survival and bearing fruit.
If we want to thrive, we need to adapt. Sometimes we anticipate change and start adapting beforehand, and other times, life throws us curveballs, and we play every change on its own merit. Either way: adapt or die, or even better: adapt and thrive! Next up…
Grit
How can we explain the meaning of the word ‘grit’? One dictionary says: “Firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.” [3]
If we want to talk about grit, I thought the best place would be to start with someone who wrote a whole book on the word! Angela Duckworth’s words resonate with my own experience when it comes to applying grit.
“Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Angela Duckworth [4]
I have completed a few marathons, but the ultra-marathon that epitomizes the word ‘grit’ for me has to be the Comrades Marathon, of which I have completed three. The Comrades is about 90 kilometres in length, and what I find interesting is this: there are times (and during every race, the place where you need to apply grit, differs) where you really have to dig deep not to give up.
People find different ways to be able to carry on when they feel like giving up, but what works for me is to break a very long distance up into smaller goals. If, for instance, I am on the 30 km mark and feel overwhelmed, I set my next goal to get to 33km, and then 37, and then 40. This approach works for running a marathon, but it also helps me when I feel tired, overwhelmed or when I lack motivation in different aspects of life. Often, thinking too much about what we have to do or want to achieve in a year’s time (or even during the course of a week) seems daunting, but if we focus on doing what we can, right now, today, and making sure we do it with meaning and purpose, tomorrow has a way of taking care of itself.
That doesn’t mean we don’t have to plan ahead! No one rocks up at the Comrades marathon and just starts running! You need to have prepared properly. However, as we work towards a big, sometimes overwhelming goal, it helps to start and focus on where you are right now.
Angela Duckworth also said: “Grit is not just about stubborn persistence. It’s also about choosing the right goals.”
Make sure you are expending all of who you are on the right goal, a mission that is worth your time and your effort, a mission that will make a lasting, eternal difference in the Kingdom of God.
[1] https://www.goodwin.edu/enews/adaptability-quotes/
[2] https://ki.se/en/research/live-and-let-die-spotlight-on-cell-death
[3] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grit
[4] https://www.silkandsonder.com/blogs/news/angela-duckworth-quotes
Anru Liebenberg 
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