The G.R.I.T. Model: A Mental Framework That Helped Me Push Through When Quitting Felt Easier

I made it to my destination (~4000 kms, ~14k ft altitude), Hikkim, after Kaza at the world’s highest post office

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
— James Clear

I didn’t just think of this quote when I was feeling worn out.
I had lived it repeatedly, so it came to me.

Under a 48°C sky, I was 800 kilometers into a 1,000-kilometer journey.
My legs were twitching from exhaustion, my gloves were soaked, and my helmet felt like it was melting into my skull. I was still 200 kilometers away. My body was finished.

The heat made all of my preparation, conditioning, and hydration seem futile.
I stopped next to a dusty dhaba, sagged down, and looked straight ahead with a blank expression.
“This is enough,” said every cell in my body.

I didn’t give up, though.
Not because I’m superhuman.
However, this was not the first time I had been put to the test by life. And long before I ever rode the bike, I had prepared for situations like this.

Grit is developed in the moments you think about it, not when you need it. Not Important
I had previously experienced pressure and pain.
It was only the most recent.