Those “strong” people you admire most and consider resilient despite difficulties have probably cultivated habits that make them persistent. They typically have a secret goal or vision that causes them to forge ahead daily. These persistent people are often dreamers who believe they have a higher purpose outside their weekly paycheck. The burning vision embedded deep in their soul gives them a sense of joy, not to mention meaning and purpose.
If you aim to live a meaningful, happy, and successful life, you must build as many great habits as possible that boost your persistence.
To succeed, you must be persistent and develop an “I will never quit until I win” attitude. The following 10 habits will inspire you to improve your personal growth strategies and become more persistent.
Think about each one carefully and start implementing them today!
10 Habits That Will Boost Your Persistence
- Build a Positive Mental Attitude. A positive mental attitude will help you stay the course when life tries to tie a heavy anchor around your neck to pull you down. There are several ways to build a positive mental attitude. One way is to practice gratitude daily. When life gets hard, your focus can quickly shift from solution-oriented to problem overwhelmed. Gratitude is a weapon against it. Try to refocus your mind and attention on all the good things in your life. It could mean being grateful for the big stuff, like the love of the people around you. And what you might consider the little things like clean water and good food. You know deep inside that millions of people do not have what you do. Don’t allow the darkness to overtake the light!
- Become More Adaptable. The ability to make adjustments and adapt is a universal habit. Adaptability will give you the mental strength to alter your vision or goal to get around the roadblock. Take a lesson from the bamboo tree and use the problem to learn to be more flexible. In a heavy storm, the average tree may bend and crack. Yet, a bamboo tree, known for its flexibility, is super flexible and can withstand tremendous winds. It can weather the storm and still stand tall. Be calm and adaptable when negativity comes to overtake you and force you to quit. Adjusting your course to get outside the negativity may be the best option at times.
- Embrace Lifelong Learning. Make lifelong learning a habit. When achieving your goals and not quitting, the more information you have at your fingertips, the easier it is to stay inspired and finish. A lack of information can cause unnecessary struggles and set you back even further.
- Find Great Role Models. Create the habit of finding different types of role models throughout your life. You can find role models for various areas of life. You might admire a person for their work ethic or relationship-building skills. You might admire another for their style. Some role models you can talk to and ask questions to discuss their thoughts and beliefs. Others may be in books or other media.
- Develop the habit of creating goals and adjusting them as needed. There are many goal-making techniques. Find what works for your personality and be consistent. Develop the habit of reading your main goals daily or weekly. The idea of quitting becomes foreign because the excitement level stays high. Also, develop the habit of saying “No” to most people. Many people will try to waste your time, either intentionally or unintentionally. Saying “No” politely but firmly allows you to keep your head down while taking massive action, leading to success.
- Work on building self-confidence. Very self-confident people can take a hit that hurts. Working on your self-confidence regularly is a great habit to keep it razor-sharp. Repeating “realistic” affirmations goes a long way in restoring self-confidence. It may sound corny, but it can also be an effective tool. Try repeating “I am unstoppable” or “ I am not afraid of technology” (one of my favorites) at least 50 times before you turn on your computer. Try listening to pleasant music playing softly, with affirming words of self-confidence embedded deep in the music. This practice allows the self-confidence phrases to go deep into your subconscious mind without being blocked by your conscious mind. Hearing self-confident phrases will enable you to block the negative voice that says: “That’s not me.” You want to avoid this battle and not allow yourself to sabotage the positive image you are creating of yourself.
- Find or Build a Community of Persistent People. Having a one-on-one mentor is excellent, but people are busy and have limited time. Instead, add a group of like-minded people to your persistence toolbox. Find a solid Meetup group in your area that focuses on personal growth and development, and you will find a group of people who value persistence. If you cannot find one, start your own and grow it with the right people.
- Build patience. Yes, you want to persist in attaining your goals but go steadily, and when there is resistance, find a way around it. Think of your end goals as a solid brick wall. Built with one substantial brick and good mortar, piece by piece. In the end, the brick wall will stand for many years to come. A good bricklayer starts by building the unseen foundation. He takes his time and creates structures that are strong and beautiful to look at. Your big dreams and goals are the bricks of your life.
- Clarify your vision. Is your vision crystal clear, or are you all over the place? Develop the habit of creating a clear vision for your life, reviewing it regularly, and updating it accordingly. Your vision should include what you want for your personal life and business. The first step to getting a crystal clear vision for your life is to write it down. Consider writing a personal vision statement, a living draft you will edit as you grow. It should be short and straight to the point.
- Learn how to rest. Learn how to step back and relax. While persistently pursuing your clear vision, you want to avoid burnout. Not taking strategic breaks could cause you to lose your laser focus and veer off course. Once that happens, you must painstakingly return to the path leading to your end goal. A proper break could range from an hourly lunch break in the park to a three-week work sabbatical. You will deliver your best work this way. Your body and brain will refresh, and you can return to your work and goals with fresh eyes and renewed energy.
Final thoughts
It may be hard to believe, but it is true: highly developed, consistent habits can get you to the finish line. While staying “motivated” is challenging, especially during difficult times such as financial droughts, relationship challenges, political turmoil, etc., persistent people have developed self-discipline through strong habits that continually nudge them toward the finish line of their eventual vision. I believe the results of your efforts may not sprout for some time, but every seed you plant today will count toward the final outcome. Begin to incorporate some of the above habits of persistence, and before you know it, you will unlock your inner strength and be crossing the finish line of your vision and dreams.
Be well + prosper,
Elaine xx
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