This is self-work, and I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford.

At self-work, we discuss psychological and emotional issues and what you can do about them,

whether that's learning self-acceptance, taking action, or seeking therapy or treatment.

Eight years ago, I extended the walls of my practice to reach those of you who might already be knowledgeable about middle

health treatment, but also to those of you who might say, you'd never darken the door of a therapist.

And yet, you are here. I'll answer your questions while I invite you to take a few minutes for

your own self-work. It means that you're not going to have what's called immediate gratification,

or maybe much gratification or positive affirmation at all for a long time, especially not from

other people, or at least that's the risk. If it's a marathon, the finish line is a

hell of a long way off, and you have to somehow keep refueling your energy and your focus and your

determination for a long time. Welcome to this week's edition of self-work. Success is something

many of us seek, whether you find it through a fulfilling

professional career or creating a family that thrives or discover it within friendships that you

build or in your passion to better the world or at least a small corner of it. Success is a worthy

goal. You're actively choosing to focus on something that's important to you, and you're putting

lots of energy into that. But there's a difference between outer success and inner victory

isn't there. And what does it take to achieve either one of them? It takes grit. Angela Duckworth

wrote a book about grit in 2016. It turned out to be a New York Times bestseller.

Here are her words.

Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.

She goes on to say, grit is having stamina.

Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month,

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