Persistence

The Oxford Dictionary defines persistence as “firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.”  This definition acknowledges what we all know.  Stuff will come up that can threaten to knock us off the course of moving toward our goals.

It is important that we be clear on where it is we are headed.  It is important to take consistent action.  The question I have to wrestle with is when does firm resolution become being obstinate?  Is there a difference?  For me, it feels like there is.

Here’s what I mean.  Let’s imagine that you have a goal, a vision or dream in mind.  You have spent some time getting really clear on what it is you want and you have started to take action.  This is all great unless you also get attached to HOW this is all going to unfold. 

It might be that staying tied to the HOW creates a problem.  If we are so focused on how we think something is going to unfold, we might miss the opportunities because they don’t fit our paradigm.  This is, for me, when persistence might actually be problematic.  The difference is that I am persistent about HOW my vision will unfold rather than being persistent about the big vision itself.  I am being persistent about the wrong thing. Big difference in the energy I am putting out into the world!

From here, it makes sense to begin to pay attention to when we get into the weeds, or as Stephen Covey puts it, “the thick of thin things.”  When we can notice when we go into this space, we then have the choice of readjusting our course of action to make sure that our actions are actually moving us in the direction we want to go.