Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

By Angela Duckworth

Dr. Duckworth, a psychologist, is the author of “Grit” and the forthcoming book “Situated: Finding the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best.”

There is a children’s story I used to read to my daughters when they were 3 and 4 years old. It comes from Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and Toad” series and involves a big batch of cookies so delicious that the main characters can’t stop eating them.

“We need willpower,” says Frog.

“What is willpower?” asks Toad.

“Willpower is trying hard........

© The New York Times