Why Grit Falls Short: The Key to Long-Term Athletic Success

Ryan Sawyer
Jun 11
2 min read

Updated: Jun 19

You can push through pain. You can endure discomfort. You can grind for hours.

But if you don’t understand your own mind, your thoughts, your fears, your

motivation, grit alone won’t get you where you want to go.

We’ve praised grit as the holy grail of sports performance. “Be tough.” “Outwork them.” “Don’t quit.” And yes, grit matters. It builds resilience. It’s the backbone of mental toughness.

But here’s the truth: Grit has a ceiling.

And if we’re not teaching athletes how to think, not just what to do, they’ll eventually hit it.

The problem I see with Grit Culture:

Too often, athletes are trained to ignore pain, suppress emotions, and just power through.

They’re told:

● “Don’t be soft.”

● “Tough it out.”

● “Keep grinding.”

But here’s what gets missed:

If you never learn how to regulate your thoughts and emotions, process adversity, and assign appropriate meaning to your experiences… grit turns into burnout.

Pushing through without reflection, intention, or emotional safety doesn't build resilience; it builds walls. It teaches athletes to cope, not to grow.

The Missing Piece: Teaching Them How to Think

Heart First Coaching doesn’t ignore grit; it just expands the conversation.

We teach athletes to:

● Reflect before and after competition (3P Process: Preparation, Presence, Post-

Reflection)

● Reframe mistakes and setbacks as learning opportunities.

● Understand the difference between fear-based (avoid) strategies and growth-based (approach) strategies.

● Focus on what they can control: their effort, their breath, their attitude.

● Ask “Who am I becoming through this?” not just “Did I win?”

This builds an athlete who doesn’t crumble when they don’t perform.

It creates competitors who are adaptable, self-aware, and grounded in something deeper than approval or results.

The Science is Clear: Fear Blocks Learning

In her book Unstoppable Brain, Kyra Bobinet explains how the habenula, a small brain structure, responds to failure by suppressing motivation.

Every time an athlete feels judged, unsafe, or shamed, the habenula fires, and motivation drops. However, when athletes operate in a state of psychological safety, feeling seen, supported, and encouraged, they shift into a growth mindset. They become curious, motivated, and engaged.

This is how we go beyond grit.

We teach athletes to learn, not just survive.

From Mindset to Meaning.

When athletes are only taught what to do, "run faster, lift heavier, play harder," they become dependent on results to define their worth.

When we teach them how to think—how to reflect, reframe, and regulate—they build inner confidence that doesn't fade when the scoreboard isn’t in their favor.

Grit is a tool.

Mindset is a system.

Meaning is the anchor.

And when those three align, you don’t just get better athletes.

You get resilient leaders who are prepared for sport, for life, and for whatever comes next.

Let’s Shift the Culture

Let’s stop applauding suffering and start celebrating self-awareness.

Let’s teach athletes how to breathe through challenges, reframe their fears, and learn from every single repetition.

Let’s give them tools that outlast the game.

Because grit might win you a moment.

But meaning?

That builds a life.