Perseverance
Perseverance is the ability to keep your objective or goal in mind whilst determining or taking an action towards that goal.
When we encounter obstacles in our path, the key to perseverance isn’t in worrying about what’s gone wrong, not working, or not being done right. It is simply knowing that these moments are not the final outcome, but part of the journey towards whatever outcome or goal you’re working towards.
Perseverance invites us to honestly assess where we are right now in comparison to where we would like to be. We then learn what to try next, what needs refining, and opens us up to be inspired by others or the situation. When we persevere, we create stepping stones or jumping pads through our journey.
There are times when perseverance feels like an unattainable goal in itself. Our thoughts and moods are affected by our environment; the music we hear, movies we watch, books we read, and all other types of media, food, and people.
It seems like everything has an influence on our consciousness and our world which can lead us to distraction. How can we then hope to remain steady in any path or goal?
Here is the magic of perseverance, the unshakeable commitment to a path, goal, activity, or ideal. It is firm and uncompromising. It doesn't ask how are you feeling today, or what you feel like doing now. It says: "No matter what, I will ______".
This positive stubbornness in honouring ourselves, our word, and our vision will then affect everything else. Perseverance is faith in action, having faith in yourself and in your integrity. It is then faithfully acting.
Faith in yourself. This doesn’t mean that you have all the answers, every skill or talent required in this moment to achieve your goal. But it is surrendering yourself to the knowledge that you will discover what is needed when it is needed. It is about acknowledging that your potential is greater than you have yet seen.
Faith in your integrity is about knowing and listening to your values. It is choosing to allow your values to influence your thinking and decision making, taking your values into account before making any decision, big or small. This protects us from wallowing in regret, which is a sure way to undermine our perseverance.