Persistence – it is the power to keep going when the world is telling you to stop. But sometimes there are days where you feel like just giving in, like it is all too hard to keep soldiering on.
Here are a few tips to really turn it all around.
The mental response to setbacks
A bad day, an insensitive comment, or a minor setback can really rob you of motivation. Because these events are inevitable, and they happen to all of us, the real challenge is making sure we respond in the most productive way. The best way to address it is mentally. Try telling yourself:
I can do it
I will do a bit more and get there
If I keep at this I can work it out
I won’t let this little hurdle hold me back
OK, so not everyone agrees but this is what I need to do
Find energy boost people
If you believe that there are people that can drag you down then you must also agree that there are people that can provide a motivational boost. Gravitate to those positive people. Surround yourself with people that are positive and energetic – both professionally and in your personal life. These are the best people to share your goals and dreams, they are people that enjoy seeing you succeed and help out when times get tough.
Catch yourself before you drop the ball
Knowing your own warning signs is so important to building stamina and maintaining your persistence.
For some, it is the recognition that a headache is a sign of working too long without a break, for others it is a lack of excitement about the weekend that signifies impending burnout. For some, it is continually cancelling events and meetings. Make sure you are watching out for yourself in this regard.
If you are starting to fray at the edges then set some micro-goals to help you progress until you get a chance to refuel.
Re-evaluating the goals
As admirable as it is to push on in the face of resistance and unfavourable circumstance, it is also prudent to regularly evaluate your goals. Make sure they’re attainable and realistic; otherwise you may be conspiring to bring yourself down.
Knowing when to stop is a subjective and difficult thing to assess, but it’s central to our ability to succeed. If you have a goal, be specific about what it is; work out as best as possible the steps to get there and keep going to reach it. Make sure you balance it with the other pressures and responsibilities that you have in life.
Persistence is often the thing that lies between where we are and where we want to be. It ties in with our ability to decide how much effort to put into something and how long we should continue to push through. Persistence is about energy and wellbeing in many ways, so surrounding yourself with good people and healthy work habits will go a long way to keeping you in control.
For all our New Zealand followers, Eve is speaking on workplace culture and motivation in Auckland and Wellington at the end of August.
Eve Ash has created a wide range of video and book resources (www.7d-tv.com) on building confidence and interpersonal skills. Recently she has been producing hilarious comedy titles like Developing Successful Mindsets, Surviving Team Conflicts and Creating a No Blame Culture. Eve’s two books can Rewrite Your Life! and Rewrite Your Relationships! and can be helpful when negative thoughts drag you down.
