It begins with the discovery of our passion, which is closely connected to our calling. When we are given the right environment to dream, that passion grows wilder and bigger. With the right tools to plan, those wild and ambitious dreams start to look possible. In a nutshell, that’s what JumpStart does.

Then comes execution.

This is the stage where most people struggle to move forward. It almost feels like there’s an invisible force pulling us back into our comfort zone whenever we try to step toward our dreams. And that’s completely normal.

Think about our body’s thermostat. If our comfortable temperature is 28ºC, and the environment becomes too cold or too hot, our body automatically works to adjust back to that comfortable state. The brain signals us to respond to the change.

In a similar way, when we try to move toward something greater, our automatic reaction is to recognize that it’s unfamiliar. We feel friction. We sense resistance. There seems to be a pull bringing us back to where we were.

But when we overcome that friction, we grow. We arrive at a new zone. And growth continues as we keep overcoming new frictions along the way.

The ability to keep going despite difficulty is called grit—perseverance and passion for long-term goals, as defined by psychologist Angela Duckworth. Grit is an essential trait for achieving our dreams.

For me, grit was not something I naturally possessed. It was something I had to develop over time. There were many moments when I felt like giving up—when my dreams seemed too difficult to attain, and I felt I lacked focus. Developing grit on my own was challenging because it did not come naturally to me.

Having people to whom I am accountable for my dreams has been a tremendous help in developing grit. I can share both my successes and my challenges. I can choose growth even when it feels uncomfortable. Over time, as I have grown in grit, I have also found myself growing in patience.

JumpStart provides not only a space for discovery but also a space of support. As we choose to overcome our challenges and grow toward our dreams, may these words from Pope Benedict XVI encourage you because you are made for greatness.

With lots of love,
Irene

*This article is also published at livethecall.live