Promoting Perseverance

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Perseverance is the ability to be persistent even when things are difficult, or there is no immediate success—in other words, to keep going. Perseverance can help you reach a meaningful goal, is an important predictor of achievement, and is a way to build self-confidence and a sense of capability.

For me, one of the benefits of having a physical disability is that it has strengthened my perseverance. I cope with daily challenges such as chronic fatigue and pain and have had to learn how to keep inching my way toward important goals.

Of course, there are times when changing a goal or quitting may be the most helpful thing to do. It is important to make sure persevering does not damage your sense of well-being, health, or other aspects of your life, such as your relationships. Before you work to cultivate perseverance, it is helpful to ensure your goals are meaningful and values-based.

If they are, then fostering a sense of grit, determination, and perseverance will serve you well and aid in believing in yourself. Following are some strategies for perserverance:

Be mindful of your interests. Perseverance is often most helpful when it is directed toward your interests and passions. What are you interested in? What excites you and creates a sense of spark?

Think about how you persevered in the past. It is not easy to persevere in the face of obstacles and bringing to mind past times when you persevered will remind you of your skill and ability to overcome barriers and strengthen a sense of determination.

Set small goals and pace yourself. Perseverance often goes hand in hand with long-term goals or challenges. You are running a marathon, not a sprint. So, it is important to pace yourself and not burnout. Remember the saying, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

Identify one small step you can take that will get you a bit closer to your goal. Focus on actions that are within your control. Regularly chipping away at a goal in a realistic way fosters consistent action and a sense of accomplishment and capability.

Learn from past mistakes. Perseverance requires practice, effort, and learning from past mistakes. If things did not go well previously, ask yourself why in a nonjudgmental, curious, and matter-of-fact way. What can you learn from the past that may lead to a different outcome in the future?

Change your approach. Albert Einstein reportedly said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” If you are feeling stuck and not making progress on a goal, try something new. Perhaps you can set a different goal. It may be helpful to brainstorm and make a list of all the possible options and solutions and then implement the ones that seem most realistic and helpful.

Be patient. Personally, I can get impatient when working on a goal that is meaningful to me. I want it to happen as soon as possible. Yet, again, perseverance is often needed with long-term goals. Things will likely not happen overnight, yet that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Be patient and compassionate with yourself. Remind yourself you are doing what you can.

Try again. It is challenging to keep going, particularly when you have experienced disappointment. Cultivating an intentional mindset to try again is helpful. You can use a brief mantra such as “Keep going” or “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” to repeat to yourself whenever helpful.

Consider your values. Reminding yourself of your values (i.e., what is meaningful to you) and why a goal is important to you can boost a sense of motivation and determination. Perseverance isn’t usually random. You are persevering because it is personally worthwhile to do so.

Remember: Your actions matter. It may be easy to conclude that your actions don’t matter if you are not getting the outcome you desire. Yet, that is not necessarily true. Reaching goals can take time, and you may experience setbacks. Nonetheless, your actions matter, and you can influence what happens.