“Perseverance is the quality of continuing with something even though it is difficult.”
(Collins Dictionary)
If passion is the spark that ignites a flame on the inside, then perseverance is the breath that continues to blow, in order to let that fire grow.
There are not many things that are a greater honor than hearing someone’s life story,
Whether in full or in part, the ups and downs, the ‘failures’ and the victories, the breakdowns and breakthroughs, the limits crossed and lessons learned. There’s so much to learn from listening, truly and fully, to someone else’s struggles as well their successes.
We can be inspired by people who are currently in similar life phases or have made it through them, people who have overcome trauma or tragedy, went for their goals or went for gold. Sharing your story is as empowering for the one telling it as it is for the listener.
It can provide a fresh perspective on our own lives. Like zooming out on a map. Once you see a certain country or city or district from a distance, you get the bigger picture and can make connections. In the same way, we can become so entangled in our daily doings, that we miss the bigger picture. We need to create enough moments to ‘zoom out’ on our lives.
When we look at our lives from a distance, we clearly see how far we have come, where we are now, and the direction in which we are headed.
We can connect the dots of our life path, recognize the crossroads and challenges on it, as well as the patterns and pitfalls that may have been holding us back. We remind ourselves of our priorities, goals and dreams as well as the values that guide us on our way.
Are you aware of your direction and dreams? The priorities in this phase of your life> Your non-negotiable versus nice-to-have vision and values?
It can be a nice topic for a journaling session to create clarity or a two-way conversation with a trusted friend. Sometimes though, we need to dig a little deeper to find the blocks that are holding us back from persevering.
What if we’ve buried our dreams in order to avoid disappointment?
Or we don’t dare to go for our goals because our inner critic tells us all the reasons we shouldn’t or can’t achieve them?
Perhaps we have heard so many discouraging voices in the past that it has become a part of our own inner dialogue?
In that case, it’s time to talk back to that negative voice inside of our own heads.
Does it tell you that you’re too old?
Remind this voice that age is just a number and you have what it takes.
How about when it tells you that there are so many people who are already doing the same thing you’re passionate about?
Counter it with a quote such as: “it’s all been done before, just not by you”.
Does it tell you that you’ve tried and failed too many times to succeed?
Reply that this may the final failure that leads to success.
Does it tell you that your looks are fading?
Simply smile and say, the beauty of the heart is the only thing that lasts. 😉
Still stuck?
Schedule an empowering inner critic session to take back your (inner) voice.
Above all, don’t. give. up.
Deep down in your heart, you know what matters to you.
You know what you have to bring to the world.
You know what you are made for.
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”
Perseverance is an underestimated quality. It’s the grit that brings you to your goal. That whisper on the inside saying: take. just. one. more. step. It’s the award of accomplishment after achieving the purpose you had been pursuing.
In order to encourage you to keep on going even, and especially, when things are getting hard, I have collected a couple of my favorite quotes on perseverance. If you find one that resonates with you, I suggest writing it on a post-it right underneath the project, purpose or priority for this phase of your life. Then place it where you can see it daily.
You can do this!
Top Ten Quotes on Perseverance
“When you’re about to quit, remember why you started.”
Unknown
“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”
Newt Gingrich
“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” Walter Elliot
“Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Remember, it isn’t the dreamers who have good lives – it’s the doers. Remember also what I call the three Ps of success: passion, planning, and perseverance.”
Homer Hickam
“Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.”
Author Unknown
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Thomas Edison
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.'”
Mary Anne Radmacher
“A winner is just a loser who tried one more time.”
George M. Moore Jr
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
Confucius
Free Clarity Call
If you would like to dive a little deeper into the theme of living with passion, you’re warmly welcome for a FREE Clarity Call (20min via Skype or Zoom) and I look forward to seeing you online!
Hi
Thanks for writing such an informative blog which will surely be a great help for the readers.
I’m interested in reading your article, and your content is on point. Well done to the team.
Either way, keep up the awesome work!
Best Regards
Alice：https://zetarmoulding.com https://zetarmold.com
Thank so much Alice!