Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential. Winston Churchill
Perseverance is the critical element that gets the winner to the finish line every time. Changing your life is hard work, so what do you do when your energy is flagging and it seems like there’s a setback at every turn?
In this 4 part series on perseverance, I offer some tips and tactics to help you go the distance, to persevere toward your big-picture vision. Perseverance requires that you understand that sometimes you need to cut yourself some slack, back off of your goals, and just take care of yourself. Other times you need to give yourself a swift kick in the rear to stay on track. Whether you need help in pulling back or ramping up, go through these tips and see which ones might work for you. Just keep one foot in front of the other and you’ll make it!
16. Become active in a cause or activity that renews your commitment to your own vision. If your vision includes a career change, join a group or class that strengthens that goal.
17. Find a new way to tout your successes. Start a family newsletter to brag about your recent accomplishments. Encourage everyone to join in and make some noise about their successes, too. Start a friends and family trend.
18. Deepen your faith. Whatever you believe spiritually, renew and expand your commitment — find a community of like-minded people, and find strength in numbers.
19. Take a break and back off your goals for a couple of days. Rather than kick yourself for slacking off or feeling guilty for not making progress, make a conscious decision that you’re on holiday and enjoy the vacation.
20. Take Sundays off. There’s a reason so many religious groups consider Sunday a day of rest. Try not working, not talking, not driving, or not watching TV one day a week, and see how much more focus you can give yourself and your goals.
21. Take a risk. Large or small, try something you never thought you’d have the courage to do, whether it’s making a speech, climbing a mountain, taking a ballroom dance class, or bungee-jumping.
Perseverance isn’t drudgery. It’s a commitment to keep moving forward toward the vision you’ve created of your best possible life of purpose and passion. Never, Never Give Up!!
