"Studies indicate that the one quality all successful people have is persistence. They're willing to spend more time accomplishing a task and to persevere in the face of many difficult odds. There's a very positive relationship between people's ability to accomplish any task and the time they're willing to spend on it."

Dr. Joyce Brothers (b. 1929) American psychologist and author

The subject of persistence has come up recently, not only with clients, but in general conversation. “I know what I need to do and I start with great enthusiasm, but then that enthusiasm peters out and I stop doing what I started, although I know I need to do something!” So what’s the answer?

What do you think? Personally, I have started many things in the past, a lot of them related to losing weight, getting fitter, going to bed earlier etc and I have fallen by the way-side. I have told myself what a dreadful person I am and turned to many of the things I’d been trying to avoid. So what’s different now?

Firstly, I decided that it didn’t matter if I slipped, as long as I got right back up as soon as I could and carried on. Secondly, I decided to chip away at the things I needed to do, rather than over stretch and over commit myself. My goals are the same, but my approach is different. And finally, most importantly, I decided to keep at it. So if I have a week where things don’t quite go as I want, I just carry on the next week as though I am still on track. I don’t give up. I just do what I can, when I can. Instead of thinking that I have to exercise for at least an hour every day (talk about being unrealistic!), I exercise when time permits and feel great that I have done. It has taken a while, and I am still working on the same goals, but now I look at what I have achieved and I have made great progress since the start. If I had allowed myself to give up, I probably would be in a dreadful shape.

That is not to say it is easy. It isn’t. However, the thing that works for me is having specific goals to aim at, as well as a long-term desire to be as fit as I possibly can be for the life I live. I do not want to be an athlete, but I do want to be able to move around easily under my own steam. I want to feel the strength in my body and I want to have the stamina to do pretty much anything for as long as I possibly can.

This can apply to any area of your life. Where and how do you want to be in 6 months time, or a year, or beyond? What exercises do you need to undertake to get that aspect of your life into shape? (I am not just referring to fitness here!) And if you slip a bit, don’t worry. Don’t make excuses either. Just commit to be persistent and keep at it.

What do you feel you need to be doing this week? Have you started this before, but stumbled? Do you need to approach it differently? Were you trying to do too much too soon? Or maybe the time wasn’t right at that moment. Can you get someone to help you, even if it’s only to talk things through? Telling someone else what you are aiming to do, and when you want to achieve it by, can sometimes give you the push you need.

If you have been putting things off, have a look at what is behind the procrastination. Don’t make excuses, but there may be valid reasons for your delay. Do you have all the knowledge, skills and tools that you need? Have you allocated the right amount of time for this to be done, or is it looking too overwhelming? Again, do you need to enlist some help? Once you’ve looked at this – get started and then be persistent. Don’t wait until the time is right, the moon is blue and Mars has been colonized. If this needs to be done – do it and keep at it!

At work or at home, there is nothing like being clear about what it is you are aiming at. What are you hoping to achieve this year? Have you thought about it or are you always just reacting to what happens? It is possible to take some control over your life. Yes, unexpected things do happen, but most of our life is under our own influence. What would you like to do for yourself this year that would really make a difference? Let yourself dream. Then think about what the first step would be to make that dream a reality.

Being active every day takes persistence, persistence, persistence! And the more you persist, the more enjoyable it becomes. Instead of breaking a habit, commit to make the new habit of being active. This doesn’t have to mean formal sessions at the gym, just committing to yourself that you will move your body as and when you can.

What do you really, really want to do? Do you know? (Don’t worry. Most people haven’t worked that one out!) If you’re feeling dissatisfied with what you are being expected to do, make time to think about what is behind the dissatisfaction – a bit like procrastination. Is it because you can’t see where what you are doing fits into the bigger picture? Could it be that you feel that you have more to offer? Do you have skills that are being left unused? Be persistent in tracking down what is causing you to feel this way – then turn it to your advantage. What changes do you need to make to get yourself on board? Do you need to tell someone else your ideas? Do you just need to change the way you think about what you do?

Add something new to your life. New things add a freshness to your life. New ideas lead to innovation and different ways of thinking and doing things. New things don’t necessarily have to be original – just new for you.

If you are persistent, you will become creative in the way you choose to get things done. Sometimes it just takes a creative twist to catch your imagination and fire up your desire to achieve something. Use your creativity to inspire you to do what needs to be done. Choose visual images to remind you of what you aiming for and put them where you can see them.

Commitment and Persistence. Do you really want things to change? Then sign up to your own future and for no money down you can take the first steps to make those changes happen. You can’t buy persistence. You can only utilize it to make things happen. Persistence – a very useful device. Don’t underestimate its power!

Kate Harper
http://www.harpercoaching.com