Perseverance: Think your way to the finish line

(2 minute read time)

Those of you who know me might know that I dabble in running.  I am by no means a marathon runner but I am much better than when I first started out.  

When I first started out I did the C25k – that’s “Couch to 5k” if you’re not familiar with it.  Basically, it takes someone who does not run at all and provides a training program that, when followed, will get the user to be able to run 5k in just a few months.  

Like any goal, it takes drive, desire, commitment to complete.  It takes perseverance to follow through on the plan, especially when motivation is missing.  

Perseverance sounds like one of those pretty emotions.  We admire those with it.

But I want you to think about perseverance for a minute.  It’s defined as “continuing in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success”.  

So the evidence is stacked against you and you are moving forward anyway?  That usually does not feel great.

When I started running I had no evidence to believe I could run a 5K.   As I began training I picked up lots of evidence against success – shin splints, runner’s knee, and other undesirable aches and pains.  

You may have zero evidence pointing to success.  You may have lots of evidence pointing to failure.  The good news is you can still use your higher brain, your pre-frontal cortex, to generate forward momentum despite the evidence.  You can create perseverance.

How?  By feeling on purpose.     

Feeling on purpose is important because it is our feelings that fuel every single action we take.  If we feel confident, we take bold actions. If we feel meek, we don’t.

Most of us think that our emotions just happen to us and we just have to deal with whatever feeling showed up for the day.   

The truth is emotions come from thoughts.  We can actually think our way through to the finish line.  It doesn’t have to feel great. But it does help tremendously if it’s intentional.

Need some help generating the emotion that’s going to get you to your dreams?  I can help. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute coaching session.