Scientists claim to have developed a simple test that can measure your 'true grit' or determination.
New research has suggested that people with the true-grit trait have a perseverance and passion for long-term goals, and they have a different physiological response when faced with challenge and adversity.
The grit test, developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina, uses eight statements designed to test perseverance and consistency.
Researchers identified people as those with grit and those without. Nervous system and heart activity of the participants in the two groups were compared while they were carrying out mentally challenging tests.
The volunteers completed mental tests with electrodes taped to their skin to measure nervous system activity.
People who scored high in grit, especially perseverance, had changes in heart activity during the task that were different to those low in grit, The Independent reported.
"We found support for an influence of individual differences in grit on effort-related cardiac activity. It implies a more efficient cardiovascular profile when faced with a challenge," the researchers said.
Psychologists have suggested that true grit should be recognised as a distinctive personality trait, which stands apart from the averagely determined man or woman.
"Grit, a recently proposed personality trait associated with persistence for long-range goals, predicts success in part by promoting self-control, thus allowing people to persist in repetitive, tedious or frustrating behaviours that are necessary for success," the researchers said.
"People high in grit are more passionate about their goals and more dedicated to accomplishing them, so the importance of success should be higher for gritty people," they said.
According to academic studies gritty adults achieve higher education results, gritty kids spell better and gritty military cadets are more likely to graduate with honours from elite military academies.
