Three Things That Persevering People Do
Study after study shows that perseverance, even more than talent or intelligence, is the key to success in life. Persevering people don’t let difficulties or setbacks stop them from achieving their dreams. They just keep working toward their goals, despite any obstacles in their way. So, how do these persevering people do it? Here are three ways.
- Stay Optimistic
It’s hard to work toward your goals if you think it’s never going to work out. In order to persevere, it’s important to have a positive attitude toward the future.
While many people believe that your degree of optimism or pessimism is fixed, studies show that it’s possible to train yourself to be more optimistic. With optimism comes many benefits, including an improved outlook on life, and, yes, more perseverance. To learn to be more optimistic, check out Learned Optimism, a book by Martin Seligman - one of the world’s foremost experts on optimism.
Link - https://www.amazon.com/Learned-Optimism-Change-Your-Mind/dp/1400078393
- Stay Passionate
No job, no matter how wonderful, is entirely fun all the time. Doctors must fill out boring insurance forms; pilots must calculate fuel usage; architects, once they’ve drawn all the soaring columns and beautiful windows, must figure out where the bathrooms need to go.
How do successful people persevere through the boring bits? The answer is, by staying connected to their passion. When you are passionate about something and have a goal in mind, it’s much easier to accept the hard work that comes with achieving that goal. So, next time you are playing the same scale for the 200th time in your piano lesson, take a moment to remember why you wanted to learn in the first place.
- Accept That Not Everything Is Easy
People who persevere through obstacles know that success in life comes after a big dose of hard work. They don’t complain about hard work, or try to get out of it, or complain that they aren’t having fun. In fact, persevering people embrace the hard work that they need to do to achieve their goals and find satisfaction in it.
The next time you feel bored, resentful or overwhelmed by hard work, try this: stop what you are doing, and take several long, slow, deep breaths. Then, bring your focus away from your emotions around the work, to the work itself.
What is it going to take to get everything done? Think logically. Do you need additional help or resources? Is there another way to approach the work? Can you change your method? Or do you just need a short break? If the work is genuinely too much, ask for help. Otherwise, take a quick walk around the block, breathe some fresh air, and then get right back to it. By accepting the work rather than fighting against it, you’ll feel better and reach your goals faster.
