The Journey Within: How to Become Persistent

We’re always told that if we keep putting in the time and effort, we will eventually see our efforts pay off. It seems the key ingredient to success is persistence.

But when people give us this advice, they often act as though persistence is something you can just switch on. If you’ve not lost that weight, started that side business, well then, you just need to be more persistent. The question no one ever answers is: “How do you turn persistence on at will?”

Here are some things you can do.

Increase Your Energy
We said earlier that one of the definitions of persistence is “perseverance in spite of fatigue or frustration.”

If you’re struggling to switch on your persistence, how about taking a different tact and avoid being tired in the first place? That might be easier said than done however, with the right diet and exercise regime built around increasing your mitochondrial count and function, you can do wonders in this department. If you have more energy, you might find there’s much less need to use will power to be persistent.

Clearly Define Your Goals
Being persistent is often a result of having clearly defined goals that you’re willing to work towards tirelessly. If you know precisely what you’re trying to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it, then it’s just a matter of executing that plan even when it’s exhausting or daunting.

If, on the other hand, you don’t really know what you want, you might struggle to remind yourself why you need to put in the effort to go the extra mile.

Have a Support Network
We often derive strength from those around us. When you’re at your last ebb, you can think of all the people who believe in you and the people you don’t want to let down. Just knowing others are cheering for you to succeed is often all it takes.

Practise
Persistence takes practice. Even if you find you’re prone to giving up, consistently trying to try helps you to develop the persistence you need. Don’t give up on not giving up!