THREE LESSONS ON PERSEVERANCE:

Perseverance is the key to success. You've got to have drive and determination—what I like to refer to as “stick-to-it-tiveness” to attain any level of success. 

Lesson 1: HOW TO PERSEVERE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE:

"When trouble take you children's clothes fit you." —Jamaican Proverb

This basically means that when the storms of life rage over you, you cannot throw in the towel. You have to make the necessary adjustments to survive. Even the smallest inconsequential things will do. You must reach for anything remotely possible to help you no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Whenever you find yourself in certain situations or predicaments, you have to get out by any means necessary. Even if you have to make yourself as small as possible until you get out of your situation. You must find your support system and take time out to recover. You'll find that the things you once take for granted or overlooked, or frown upon will become your source of inspiration. You have to spend time mastering your craft before you can attain success. Basically, lay low and rebuild until the time comes to be exalted again.

Lesson 2: HOW TO PERSEVERE WITH OBSTACLES:

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." —The Bible, Matthew 19:24

In a recent discussion with my daughter, I had a revelation about the context of this passage and my inspiration for this post. In my humble translation, it is easier for a person with great obstacles and difficulties to attain success if they can persevere than those rich in knowledge, ideas, and potentials.

So, what's your camel…? Is it a financial hardship? Credit problems? Homelessness? Competitions? Market trends? Lack of education? Incest? Child abuse? Bullying? Shame? Disgrace? Interpersonal skills? Racial profiling? Weight issues? Talent issues?  You name it…

The bigger the obstacle, the more we shrink, the easier to fit through the needle’s eye. So this is definitely not the time to give up. This is when you embrace your camel and fight for your life and/or career.  Seek out help and mentorship. Beg and plead until someone says yes and gives you a chance to prove yourself. And when given that chance, do your best to prove that you deserved that chance by working hard and persevering through the pain of success. Because; it will be painful. You may have to kiss some asses. You will be criticized. You will lose some friends and family. You will lose money (whatever little bit you have). You will lose yourself. But the great news is that you will emerge anew to find yourself all over again—just like the phoenix. But you have to persevere—you have to embrace your camel.  Perseverance is the key to success.

Relatively speaking, Oprah didn't let her weight, teenage pregnancy nor incest stop her. Tyler Perry or Les Brown didn't let financial hardship and ultimately homelessness stop them. JK Rowling didn't let being a single mom on welfare stop her. Drake didn't let living in a basement apartment with his mom stop him. Sylvester Stallone didn't let his speech impediment stop him. Magic Johnson didn't let HIV stop him. So what's your excuse? Obstacles are like the humps on the camel's back. They are there to sustain you through your journey but in due time will be dissolved into your destined greatness.

Think of your obstacle as just your story before your eminent success. Don't let your story stand between you and your success.

ON A SIDE NOTE, STUDENTS…

If your light gets cut off because your mom didn't have money to pay the light bill three months in a row, don't let that be an excuse not to study for your exam. Go to the library or the coffee shop and study harder. Don't sit in shame only to repeat the cycle years later. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Self-pity is your worst enemy. Refuse to be a party to your situation. Take charge of your life. Your success is ultimately your responsibility. You have to find your own way out of distress. Study. Show up and stay focused. This is the only way to make yourself approved.

Lesson 3: PERSEVERANCE AND EGO:

"The humblest calf sucks the most milk." —Jamaican Proverb

Are you rich in ego…? What is it? Pride? Clothes? Money? Looks? Fame? Fortune? Don't be too full of yourself. Ego is good but in moderation. Our ego is how we esteem ourselves—figure out what's important to us. The problem is when we become all too self-important. You cannot get through life being full of yourself. People need people. When you are humble, you will find many favors in life. People will be patient with you and look out for you. You cannot get through the eye of a needle with your humps of pride and mightier than thou attitude. That richness can only go so far. You have to let go of your arrogant spirit and puffed up self and come just with your pure self to receive the goodness that's in store for you. Humility is what it takes to acquire success longevity. Let go of your tendencies to be boastful and show off. Let go of your tendency to compete and run against each other. Let go of your narcissism. Find and show your kinder, gentler, meeker side. Let them get to know the real you. The you that is yearning for love and understanding like everyone else. There is no ego in perseverance.

In summary…

When things are going quasi-well for us, "nobody got time for that"—Perseverance that is—but perseverance is the key to success. We don't have time for the needle in the haystack. We don't have time to be humble. We don't have time to try it on for size. But it is in those time when the gravy train shows up…when we miss the windows of opportunity…when we miss the eye of the needle. When we become consumed with acquiring stuff and baggage—physical and emotional—we become too rich for success—Too much stuff to go through—to cross over—to fit in. We have to let them go and show up ready willing and able, or prepared to be turned away. Our stuff will make it impossible to go the distance. To pass through the needle's eye. You can't shrink up and become small with all that we have going on for us. We've got to go commando and weather the storm. Persevere! I'll leave you with these two quotes from two men who knew all about perseverance.

(some images are from the internet)

Until next time,
Be blessed. Be bold. Be Strong. Be you!
-Aggiestrong V!
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Andrene Gregory is a life coach with certification in LifeSkills training and Personality Dimensions. She helps empower adults to live a strength-based life, regain their confidence and find the courage to get through life's challenging situations. Her unique approach to getting desired results includes personality assessment, self-knowledge, goal setting, and action planning.

Andrene provides one-on-one coaching and group workshops. Find out more at www.aggiestrongulc.com.