When we display mental toughness, perseverance and determination we are probably doing something that is tough and challenging. But why do we show these characteristics and jump hurdles and strive to achieve? Insight from this article tells us that we are driven by having a great sense of purpose and cause. So it isn't necessarily that we need to experience difficulties and hardships in order to display Grit (see my post on Angela Lee Duckworth's TED talk http://bit.ly/2eBlSSK) but instead we must ensure that our driver is a sense of purpose. This may come from the role that we do and our own ambition to succeed or from the direction from a leader. However it's important that we take ownership and responsibility for our sense of purpose in order to be able to call on our mental toughness when we need it.