~ Persistence ~

Is it time for you to give up and quit?

Most meaningful endeavors in life come with challenges. Marriages, businesses, getting an education, raising children and self-improvement are all things that are important, but aren’t always easy.

Giving up is an option. I know I’ve considered quitting just about everything I’ve ever started at one point or another. Surrendering to the challenges sure seems tempting sometimes.

Of course, successful people will tell you that persistence is the key to winning. Giving up is the only sure way to failure.

Persistence is defined as the ability to continue firmly in your purpose, despite the opposition you are feeling. It takes courage and backbone to be persistent.

When I feel like giving up, I look at these 5 rules to motivate me to be more persistent :

1. Breakthroughs happen everyday ;

" When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. "
~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

It does seem to me that breakthroughs occur just after the darkest period in any endeavor. Of course, giving up is certain failure. Stick it out one more day. Don’t look out too far toward the horizon, but instead ask yourself, “What will it take to make it through today?” Who knows what tomorrow might bring?

2. Surge to the finish line ;

" Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world. "
~ Jane Addams

I think those that succeed have the uncanny ability to summon their second wind when things seem their bleakest. Maybe it is the eternal optimism they hold inside. Maybe it is undying confidence. Maybe it is a fear of failure. Whatever the case, dig deep for another push toward your goal and you might just win big!

3. The moment is yours ;

" If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down. "
~ Mary Pickford

Face every day as if it is a new day. It is another chance to go out and make happen what you want to happen. I know this is true because I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. If there was no such thing as a second chance, then I’d be homeless, lonely and destitute! Embrace your opportunity to start fresh this moment.

4. Adopt a survivor mentality ;

" Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else. "
~ Brian Tracy

Make the other guy give up! You aren’t going to be the one to give in first are you? Usually the person that sticks to their guns the longest will be the ultimate victor. Remember the motto from the television show Survivor? It is time for you to “Outwit, Outlast and Outplay” your opposition!

5. Never forget the tortoise ;

" It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."
~ Confucius

Remember the tortoise from The Tortoise and the Hare? He was painfully slow, but he never quit and he ended up winning. Sometimes we can get discouraged because things aren’t moving as fast as we want. In this case, our expectations become self-defeating. Don’t worry about how slow things are going, just be sure they keep moving!