Dr. Angela Duckworth

They need it in some way.

Like they are trying to do something in practice and they did it in practice.

They tried to adjust their elbow by a little.

They did it.

So I think that when we find a person in our lives, maybe ourselves, you know, there's a real lack of hope.

To me, the most important thing is to find something that can be that little victory that gives you hard evidence that you can do something if you try.

And that's what I try to remember but don't always enact with myself and, of course, with my children.

What would you say to them, Dr. Duckworth?

So I'm writing a book.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done.

Many, many tears, months and years of struggle, insomnia.

I mean, I've been through all of it with this book.

When I'm really discouraged, I take my pen and I get it out and I put a to-do list together that is so ridiculously simple, like open Google Docs.

And then I open the Google Doc and I check it off.

Small win.

You know, like I could say to myself, like, spend five minutes looking at this, you know, paper that I printed out that I don't understand.

Write it down.

Check it off.

Small win.

And so you can be your own Olympic coach if you break down these things that are feeling discouraging to you.