3 KEYS TO PERSISTENCE

What do you want to happen? Do you have a plan? Are you sticking to the plan? Is your discouragement keeping you from sticking to the plan?

Whatever is in your plans, from getting a new job to obtaining a healthier weight to cleaning the bathroom, persistence is the key to getting the work done and accomplishing your goals. There is an old saying, “plan the work and work the plan.”

It can be hard to “work the plan” when there are a myriad of impediments and reasons that get in the way of getting it done.

Key 1 – Is it YOUR priority?

If it isn’t at the top of your priority list, you won’t get it done. If it isn’t important to you, it just won’t happen. Ask yourself: “Is this important to me? Do I really want to do this?”

If the answer is yes, then focus on the solutions to your goal. Perhaps the reason you see so many impediments, roadblocks and reasons not to do it, are that you are focusing on them, instead of focusing on the solutions. If you don’t really want to do something, you will see every reason not to do it. If you really want to do something, you may not even notice the roadblocks. If you do see them, your perception will be that it is just a bump in the road, not a full-on roadblock.

For example, I’m trying to get to a healthier weight. When invited out brunch, what should be my focus? All the delicious food? The people I’m dining with? Just the healthy, low fat/low calorie food? Right, I should focus on the people I’m with and the food options that will support my goal of a healthy weight. Yes, it means passing up on eggs Benedict (a favorite), but I can eat all the fruit I want. I can have scrambled eggs with asparagus. I focus on the fruit for dessert. When I have reached my target weight, then I’ll come back for eggs Benedict in my skinny jeans!

Key 2 – Don't Worry about Criticism

Do the very best you can with what you have available at the time. That is all anybody can expect. Your best will change over time. Your best will change from moment to moment and day to day. Just do the best you can at that particular time. Under any circumstances, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

When you do your best, you learn to accept yourself. However, be aware and learn from your mistakes. Learning from your mistakes means you practice, look honestly at the results, and keep practicing. You know you are doing your best when you are enjoying the action or doing it in a way that is positive for you and those around you.

Analyze your own mistakes and draw out the lessons you learned. Apply the lessons you learn so you don’t repeat your mistakes. Life is a learning experience. Action is about living fully and expressing what you are is taking action.

Remember too, that unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment. So if people criticize, ask, “What is this really about? Is it justified? What is the evidence?”

Key 3 – Keeping Your Energy and Spirits High

How do you keep your spirits and energy high? Get enough sleep. Rest before you get tired. Learn to relax. Eat right and exercise. These basics are basics for a reason. This will provide the foundation you need to deal with challenges. If you are rested, you have the brain-power to think of solutions. A creative mind is a rested mind.

If you are tired, if you aren’t eating right, you will not have the physical stamina to be resilient to setbacks and challenges. When you are resilient, you can face challenges and take them in stride. When you are tired, doubt creeps in. Once doubt has a foothold, insecurity moves in and confidence moves out. Then you’ve lost before you really began.

Focus on thing at a time. Give that part of the whole, your full attention. You’ll be surprised and pleased at how fast you’ll move through it. Do things in the order of their importance. That way you’ll always be ready for the next step. When you face a problem, solve it then and there if you have the facts necessary to make a decision. Then move on. Don’t second-guess. Don’t analyze it to death. Just move on to the next part or next step.

Put enthusiasm into your work. As long as you have to do it, do it enthusiastically. See last week’s Resistance is Futile if you have questions. Even if you don’t really feel all that enthusiastic in the beginning, do it wholeheartedly.

This week’s coaching questions:

I sprinkled many questions through out the article to sharpen your thinking. It all comes down to:

What are you doing to make your goal happen?

1.       Write down all your “priorities” now. What number is the goal? Honestly, how much of a priority is it to you?

2.      Are you letting criticism get in your way? Are you consistently doing your best?

3.      Are you focusing on one thing at time, enthusiastically?

4.      Are you planning the work and working your plan?

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream.

All things are possible,

Elisabeth

Elisabeth Adler-Lund

Executive and Life Coaching

Telephone: 916 • 803•1494

E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com