Authentic Tenacity: Redefining Strength in Difficult Times

We all go through seasons that knock the air right out of us. The kind of moments where life shifts without our permission, and suddenly the ground beneath us feels unsteady.

For years, I thought being “tenacious” meant pushing harder—gritting my teeth, hustling, muscling through no matter what.

But then life showed me another side of tenacity—the kind that isn’t about force, but about grounding yourself in your values, your strengths, and your truth.

That’s what I call authentic tenacity.

The Myth of Tenacity

The world loves to tell us that tenacity is all about hustle and pushing through. That if we just put in more hours, push through the exhaustion, and keep striving, we’ll eventually break through.

But if you’ve ever lived that story, you know how hollow it feels. Because sooner or later, that kind of striving doesn’t sustain you—it drains you.

And when life really throws a curveball, “just push harder” isn’t enough to hold you up.

Here’s What Authentic Tenacity Really Looks Like

Authentic tenacity isn’t about never stumbling. Not even close. It’s about choosing to keep going in a way that’s true to who you are.

It sounds like:
✨ I don’t have to do this perfectly. I just have to take the next step.
✨ My worth isn’t measured by appearances. It’s rooted in my strengths.
✨ Even if progress is messy, it’s still progress.

Authentic tenacity is quieter than hustle. It’s steadier. It comes from a place of self-trust instead of self-doubt.

The Awakening

One of the hardest seasons of my life came when my daughter suffered a stroke at just sixteen years old and also learning she’d been involved in an abusive relationship.

The wind got knocked out of me in a way I’ll never forget. There were nights I lay awake wondering how we would ever move forward. And yet, somehow—we did.

Not because I was superhuman. Not because I powered through. But because something fundamental shifted inside me.

I realized that resilience doesn’t mean snapping back to who you were before—it means becoming someone new through what you’ve endured.

That season gave me a strength I didn’t know I had. It reminded me of the importance of listening to my own voice, of not silencing my truth. It reshaped not just how I parent, but how I live—and how I lead.

Tenacity in Leadership

Authentic leaders aren’t the ones who never fall. They’re the ones who rise, again and again, in a way that is real.

Tenacity in leadership isn’t about pretending to have it all together. It’s about:

✔️ Staying grounded in your values.
✔️ Letting your strengths guide you, even in uncertainty.
✔️ Choosing progress over perfection.

That kind of leadership inspires others because it shows them they don’t have to be flawless either. They just have to keep going—authentically.

Your Next Step

If you find yourself in a hard season right now, here’s what I want you to remember:

✨ Tenacity doesn’t mean pushing harder.
✨ It means showing up—true to yourself—even when it’s tough.
✨ And sometimes, the biggest leap forward happens right in the middle of the hardest moment.

Your authentic voice has been there all along. Maybe this is the season it finally gets to be heard.

If you haven’t yet taken my Inner Critic Personality Test, now is a great time to do it. It’s quick, insightful, and might just be the beginning of a huge shift for you.

— MaryAnn Gramig