Six Steps to Persistence: A Story of Success
Today is a momentous day for me. I just mailed the last payment to payoff my debt. It has taken me nearly five years diligently paying each month to eliminate all of my debt (except my house) and now, here I am: debt free.
I decided years ago that I would no longer live in debt. I will live a wealthy life, in abundance and freedom. First step – eliminate the debt. “Stop digging the hole and start climbing out!” So, with direction from an expert, I set up a plan of action and began my journey.
This is how most change occurs – you decide once and for all that you have had enough! You have endured enough pain and choose to start a new life. This goes for any undertaking – starting a business, changing careers, creating an amazing relationship, becoming a better leader, losing weight, getting a degree…whatever your goal.
Along the way, life throws daggers and arrows and pokes you with obstacles that challenge your resolve to stay on course. These can be situations, people, or even your own inner voice.
It is these obstacles that cause us to grow and require this important Key to Success – Persistence. You will need persistence in order to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
What obstacles generally get in your way to success? Fear of failure? Of not being good enough? Of rejection? Identify your greatest fear of success and DON’T FEED THE OBSTACLES! Stay focused on your goal.
Your inner voice might sound like mine:
“That’s a beautiful outfit, Julie; you’d look wonderful in that! Buy it!”
“Sure, go with your girlfriends on that cruise you have always wanted to take. It would be so much fun!”
“Debt? You’ll NEVER be debt free so why bother? You might as well just spend your money on whatever you want today. Who cares?”
We all have this little voice inside that tells us what we should or should not do. It often gives you really bad advice and if you follow the advice, you give up and wind up deeper in your hole.
YOU get to decide who is in charge: YOU or your thoughts.
During those moments of choice, you reinforce your commitment to your goal.
Persistence is the act of doing one little thing each day to move you closer to your goal.
- Today, I will pack my lunch and make my coffee at home.
- This month, I will budget for entertainment and eating out. (I cannot tell you how many months went by where there was no budget.)
- This week, I will research one website on wealth, read one article, and sign up for a newsletter on prosperity.
One step at a time. One day at a time. This is the way people get sober or quit smoking. Chunk your goal down into small steps. Each of us can accomplish a small task a day.
- Today, I will say nothing negative about myself or others.
- Today, I will look for things to praise and acknowledge my spouse and I will say them.
- Today, I will look up college courses so I can finally finish my degree.
- Today, I will write a list of all of the qualities I want in my ideal mate.
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Today, I will work out for 15 minutes. I will simply observe my eating patterns – not do anything – just notice what I eat, how much, and how I feel at the time.
By focusing on one step at a time, you focus your energy on the PROCESS of achieving success rather than the OUTCOME and why you’re not already there!
Here are your Six Steps to Persistence:
- Create a new, compelling vision for your success. (You’ve had enough pain, enough of the old; now what do you want?) This vision will draw you toward it.
- Be committed to your vision of success. This is where your motivation will come from, where you will draw strength in times of doubt and indecision.
- Create a plan of action.
- Take one step at a time. What one small step can you take today or this week to move you toward your goal?
- Take another step. And then another. And then another. Don’t stop until you succeed.
- Have an ally, a coach, or supportive environment to keep you focused and on track. It’s easy to fall off track, make excuses, or rationalize old patterns if we don’t have someone in our life lighting the beacon so we can swim to shore. I am the beacon for my clients; and I have a coach who is the beacon for my vision for success.
Please leave comments below. And keep taking that next step!
Your partner for success,
Coach Julie ~ Nurturing Your Success
