Persistence
July 9th, 2008 by John Wolfe
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge
The eleven letter word, titling this post, may appear to move against the grain of many spiritual teachings. There’s no denying, however, it’s one of the most important components for achieving the changes we desire in our lives. A form of consistent persistence, both of thought and action, is required to get the ball rolling on desired manifestation, and ensure it continues gaining speed.
This comes back to the idea of momentum, which I spoke about in Podcast #5: The Inspiration Behind Deliberate Creation. Without cultivating the emotional drive to consistently propel our actions forward, we will more than likely give up long before seeing our dreams reach fruition.
For the remainder of this entry I’ll be using the word dreams and goals interchangeably. I know some inspirational and motivational authors have a problem with the word dreams and they feel there is a distinct difference between the two. Many believe a dream represents something in the ether that’s intangible, while a goal is definable and measurable because of the steps that can be taken toward it.
I feel goals can only exist because of our dreams. They’re too intrinsically linked to separate them. Without the initial desire to think and dream, we would never determine why we needed a course of action in the first place, toward measurable goals. Now, unfulfilled dreams, on the other hand, are different from goals, yet anyone that’s willing to take action in the direction of their dreams is in the process of moving out of the ether and into the physical realm of dream/goal fulfillment.
It’s fascinating to observe the differences between individuals that are able to make major changes in their lives, in comparison to those that fail to do so, despite their efforts. The defining factor (as Coolidge pointed out) is almost always linked to determination- who has developed it and who hasn’t. This trait is something we must build within ourselves by cultivating an inner belief in our abilities.
I used to think people that were capable of realizing really big dreams were somehow special and different from me in very unique ways. It seemed they all possessed similar “secret” characteristics that were germane to their success. However, the more closely I began to examine what made these individuals tick; I realized they also were each quite different from one another. Yet, the one trait they shared was a relentless drive to succeed.
I began viewing them in a different light; suddenly realizing they were ordinary men and women like you and me. Ordinary, other than the fact they knew exactly what they wanted, didn’t care what anyone else thought and learned to perceive possibilities where everyone else saw obstacles. This doesn’t mean they always initially saw the benefit in the obstacles. But they persevered until the blockages could eventually be utilized and viewed as opportunities.
One thing I want to make clear about perseverance: it’s not an excuse for stubbornly running headlong with blinders on. In being persistent we stay true to our goals and consistently move toward reaching them, but we simultaneously are willing to also try new means for doing so. If a particular strategy doesn’t seem to be working, it doesn’t mean our dreams are unattainable, it only means that strategy may need to be tweaked or changed altogether. It’s important to stay open to changes regarding new ways for keeping us on our path and moving forward.
Most people fail to find the means for building an unwavering belief in their goals because they have allowed self-doubt to dominate their mindset. Couple this with a lack of passion for their pursuits; throw in an unwillingness to disassociate from naysayers, negative people and unproductive, time-draining activities- and you have a recipe for giving up before any dream is able to fully manifest.
The Universe is willing to grant us all that we desire, but there’s much truth in the idea god helps those that help themselves. If we are not willing to: reshape our outlook; take charge of our pursuits; release the dream killers from our lives; use our time wisely; and always, no matter what, persist in the direction of our aspirations; then source energy can only provide us with more of what we’ve previously carved out for ourselves.
Begin, right now, by starting to believe in yourself and believe in your dreams. Cultivate that belief even farther by taking action. Each step you take brings you closer to knowing your dreams will be delivered in full. Ignore anything and anyone stating the contrary to your inner knowledge and never, ever, ever give up!
In my next post, I’ll be discussing specific techniques for developing the belief and knowledge, needed to assist us in persevering until our dreams are realized.
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Related Posts
Believing in Yourself
The Wisdom of Wind
Podcast #5: The Inspiration Behind Deliberate Creation
Effortless Passionate Creativity
Blazing Your Own Trail
