A little bit about PERSEVERANCE
Perseverance = Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Upon completing a charity event last week where I and a group of others kayaked over 100 miles along the River Thames from Henley to Leigh on Sea, I felt compelled to write a little about ‘Perseverance’
I think the subject of perseverance is quite fitting in how it relates to achieving your fitness and life goals. During my time in a kayak I can honestly say I rarely enjoyed any of it! Each day consisted of miles and miles of tedious and monotonous kayaking for hours on end. If endurance is your thing then I am sure you would enjoy it but as my specialities lay with lifting, I found the repetitive movements a chore!
So how does kayaking relate to achieving your goals?
It isn’t so much the kayaking but the ability to keep going when all you want to do is quit! Every day is going to be a challenge. There will be obstacles and set backs on your journey to success. Each will test your staying power and commitment to your goal. It’s human nature to want to take the easy route. When life presents you with negativity and doubt it is easy to simply quit.
But it is this attitude that STOPS you achieving success!
I like to surround myself with positivity and every day I will read or watch a motivational speech. Among one of my favourites is from the film Rocky Balboa played by Sylvester Stallone:
“Let me tell you something you already know.The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth! But you gotta be willing to take the hits. And not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”
Along with Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger was another one of my childhood favourites and still motivates me today. Below is a video I like to try and live my life by:
Next time you fall off the band wagon with your training, diet or life goals, ask yourself do you really want to quit?
Believe in yourself and keep going, eventually you will get what you want!
Stay positive, even when it seems impossible to do so. Keep your mind focused on the outcome you desire and do whatever it takes to get there. In the words of Arnold “Don’t be afraid to fail”
Failure just means you’ve tried something and it didn’t work, but it doesn’t mean it won’t work next time you try it or even the time after that!
