Perseverance - The power to obtain your goals

Perseverance is a quality of character that plays a crucial role in achieving success in any arena of life. When it comes to the ups and downs of sports, it is essential to realize one's fullest potential. Without the drive to push through the demanding challenges and obstacles, we would give up at the first hurdle and never realize our dreams.

I can't help but think about the Navy SEALS BUD/s training. Everything I read about that experience has perseverance at its core—those who make it must endure and push through. Those who ring the bell feel relieved at the time because they no longer have to survive the punishment of the training, but soon after, they feel a pang of regret wondering what could have been.

Here are some thoughts that will help you develop the type of perseverance you will need to be at the top of your game.

A positive attitude is more than just a platitude regarding perseverance. Regardless of your situation or current skill level, striving to maintain a positive attitude keeps you in the game and helps you maintain the will to carry on. This optimistic attitude will help keep you focused on your goals and prevent negative thoughts from derailing your progress.

Setting small, achievable goals can act as great motivation for sustained effort over time. Think of the rush of endorphins you experience by adding a completion checkmark to any item on your to-do list. I am not saying to only focus on the small goals; you must have that BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) to aim for. After all, this is the goal that requires your perseverance. But rather than giving up due to lack of immediate success on something that stretches you to your limits and asks new things of you, find the small goals you can accomplish on your way to brilliance.

When considering perseverance, we must talk about the art of reflection. Periodically taking stock of how far you have come since beginning down your chosen path will provide great feedback for the brain. How can you check progress without the odd glance in the mirror?

Staying focused on the long-term objective is essential as you navigate the successes and failures of your journey. There will be short-term disappointments and losses; these should never cause one's long-term ambitions to become unrealized. There is a skill in learning from such experiences as they provide invaluable insight into areas needing work.

If the goal you are aiming for is worthy, helps others, and is from your heart, never give up. I can assure you life will get hard; it inevitably does. To help you through those challenging times, you can draw inspiration from other successful stories within your sport (or ones outside it!) if needed.

Remember, continuing with unwavering determination pays off, and perseverance in adversity will get you to your goals.