A lot of us talk about the growth mindset, but do we really break things down what growth really looks like? Probably there are many ways to define it, but for me when I really think about growth, it's about challenge and persistence. But let's pause and think about what persistence is and how is it defined. This is what google defines persistence as, "firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition". Once your goal is determined, then persistence means you stick with it, i.e a firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. So sticking to your goal, is what is persistence. No matter what happens you don't move the goal(unless the goal is really really wrong), you change execution plans but the goal remains the same. So I am going to consider a few quotes on persistence:
"A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." This quote is so beautiful, as in when a river cuts a rock, it's not because of this one giant wave that breaks the rock. It's multiple ways, accumulated over years that causes the rock to disrupt. So the quote really highlights how consistent and persistent efforts can move things. In life also, we need to have the persistence to keep pushing the rock, even when we don't see any progress.
This is the great Michael Jordan, he says, if you are trying to achieve something, there are going to be roadblocks. He's had them and everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you, if you run into a wall don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it. That's what Michael Jordan teaches us. I mean if Michael Jordan says everyone has had them, it means that everyone really really has them. It's what we think about the roadblocks that really matters, do we get up and try to climb the wall or do we just go back saying that you can't climb the wall.
This is a wonderful quote as well. This talks more about why persistence is important from an external perspective. One day, I was with my friends in the swimming pool and she spoke something on the lines of "Aaj yeh toh seekh ke he rahenge." Honestly, I was so so impressed at that point that the words still ring my ear, aaj yeh toh seekh ke he rahenge. This made feel the power of persistence now, she was super persistent about learning a swimming stroker and was failing at it continuously but the way she spoke just made me understand how passionate she was to learn a particular swimming stroke. So persistence is something that's extremely important even to the outside world, because it shows how passionate you are to do something.
Now lets go into a the process of being persistent. One way to think about it is the power of yet, a lot of times when we get tired, we say things like, "I can't do this", "I am not able to do it", etc. But what if you add a yet, every time you encounter such challenges, instead of "I can't do this" say "I can't do this, yet." It makes you think completely differently and this also makes sure that your emotions are in a positive state.
One really good strategy to be persistent is this. First define a purpose, this will be why are you doing this. The second step is a plan, any big project never gets executed without a plan. So have a plan about what you are going to do and when are you going to do. The third is not to listen to naysayers, people who say that you can't do it and all. Just stay away from such people. The fourth is a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage you to follow through with your plans and remind you why you are doing something.
Remember persistence will be rewarded no matter what.
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