We had the good fortune of connecting with Grace Griswold and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Grace, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important thing that bodybuilding has taught me is strength, and the most important lesson I have learned from the sport is that mindset is everything. Mental strength and self-belief are even more important than physical strength, and it is essential to believe in the strength that you have to be successful. I have learned confidence, how to believe in myself, discipline, and perseverance, among many other valuable lessons, through bodybuilding. Mental resilience is not only important when it comes to overcoming challenges in the gym and in the sport but to many other areas in our lives as well; many of the lessons bodybuilding has taught me are as much lessons to everyday life as they are related to training. I learned discipline from bodybuilding, through my training and dieting, but I do not think this discipline would have been possible if it weren’t for my mental resilience. Having mental resilience is vital to having discipline because a weak mind will not allow you to stay disciplined.

Bodybuilding teaches you not to compare yourself to others and that your only competition is that of yourself. This has been a very valuable lesson for me, as it is easy to compare myself to others around me, but I have learned and seen firsthand that everyone’s journey is completely different when it comes to bodybuilding and beyond. The goal-oriented mindset that the sport gives you translates to everyday life, along with the discipline, which carries over to all areas. Overcoming plateaus and setbacks in bodybuilding has taught me resilience by giving me a goal to aim for. This perseverance has been beneficial for me when facing everyday challenges, helping me navigate obstacles with a problem-solving mindset rather than giving up. Training to failure in the gym and learning how to train specifically for bodybuilding has taught me how to push through discomfort and fatigue, which has made me realize I am often stronger than I sometimes think I am. I have since been able to better push through discomfort in other areas, too. The mind is so powerful, and I have learned how important mindset and self-belief are to my success through competing. Pushing through the hard days in the gym has shown me that I can do the same in other areas of my life, all thanks to my mental resilience. By integrating these lessons into my daily routine, I have been able to cultivate a more proactive, resilient, and purposeful approach to my own life. Bodybuilding has taught me more valuable life lessons than I ever thought it could, and I am grateful to the sport and the people who have helped me along the way for doing so.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am proud of how far I have come from where I started, but I am excited to see where I will go! I know I have a long way to go and that the journey will be long, but I am grateful to have the opportunity and excited to keep progressing in the sport!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take her to different cool gyms and maybe hit up a food hall for a fun free meal!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to Anthony Daisy of Exercise Bioenergetics, Inc. for helping me early on in my fitness journey and mentoring me, Steve Payne of House of Payne Personal Training for introducing me to bodybuilding, and my current coach, Dillon Phaneuf of Trademark Physiques. I would also like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracegriswoldfit/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/me/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ix-h1bCLchRVKYrLyZuCg

Other: LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/gracegriswold

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ggracegriswold

Image Credits
Certain images: IG: @abu__thabit

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