How to Improve Your Perseverance
If you're familiar with the story of the hare and the tortoise, you know that the moral to the story is that slow and steady wins the race. While the hare was fast and got off to a good start in the race against the tortoise, the tortoise proved that perseverance is much more important than speed. Like the hare, many people start off strong, but fewer people have the patience and perseverance of the tortoise. If you're one of those who start with a bang yet quits early, don't despair. It is possible to improve your skills in that area.
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Instructions
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Set goals and write them down. If you don't know what you want to accomplish, it's hard to persevere until you do. Instead of making a whole list of projects that may overwhelm you, choose one or two goals that are most important to you and work toward those.
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Make a list of the steps required to reach your goal, and write them down. For instance, if you want to write a novel, determine how many words an average novel in that genre is. Decide how long you want to devote to writing the novel. Determine how many words you need to write per day to finish the first draft. Every goal can be broken down into small, manageable steps.
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Cross each step off of the list as you complete it. If you want to master the ability to cook authentic German dishes, you'll need to buy cookbooks, study the recipes, shop for ingredients and practice making the dishes. Eliminate each step as you go, and look at the progress you've made on the way to your goal.
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Make a list of the rewards involved in any project to encourage yourself to persevere. When you want to lose 40 pounds, it may seem like an overwhelming goal. On the other hand, there may be big payoffs for doing so. Maybe you want to lower your blood sugar considerably, fit into your favorite pair of jeans or strut your stuff on the beach when you go on vacation in the spring. Keep those rewards in mind to encourage yourself to stick to your diet and exercise program.
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Visualize your success. Take time each day to sit back, relax and picture the life you'll lead once you've reached your goal. Alternatively, write out a paragraph or two that detail how reaching your goal will change your life. Read them over several times a day to encourage yourself to keep going.
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Tips & Warnings
Reward yourself for significant steps accomplished in the course of reaching your goal.
Avoid setting goals that are unrealistic or unattainable. You're likely to get discouraged and discard the project before you reach the pinnacle of success.
References
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