Persistence

I, like many other people, am a creature of habit. I’m not just referring to personal habits but emotional habits. When I encounter certain situations, I go through a default pattern of behaviour, which is safe and comforting as I know it has sort of worked in the past and it does not deviate into risky territory where I cannot predict the outcome. I know I had commented before that we should all be riskier in our behaviour but that is far harder when you are dealing with emotional matters.

Thanks to some friends, I recently deviated from a usual pattern of behaviour and took things to a different route; namely, I actually said how I felt and confronted an issue (which I normally would avoid). It was not an easy thing to do and I regretted the confrontation immediately afterwards. However, once time had passed and I was able to reflect more of what I did, I was far more satisfied than I would have been if I took my default position of being a compliant door mat. The outburst (and it was a big blaze of apoplectic rage) has also allowed me to disconnect from the situation and be objective about it. Somehow, the over emotional outpouring has meant I now do not have any emotion towards the issue – and it is really rather freeing! I could even say I feel a bit smug. So in my smugness, I have added a few quotes about persistence and tenacity, as it really does pay to be persistent sometimes. Even if is just to feel self-righteous for a moment….

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent

-- Calvin Coolidge

Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.

-- Bill Bradley

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.

-- F. Scott Fitzgerald