Persistence is most effective when we’re making progress towards our goals, regardless of how minute or small it is. But when we hit a road block, persistence can wind up being counterproductive. In fact, it can wear us down, discourage us when we can’t see any progress being made after exhaustive attempts.
In my last post, I wrote about taking a step back. Some might believe that doing so is equivalent to quitting or failing when it actually isn’t. Taking a step back is only a temporary pause, not a permanent one. This can give us the time we need to revitalize our energy, to get into the frame of mind we need to succeed (or to look at a dilemma from a different angle).
In this sense, persistence and taking a step back are part of the same process. It’s part of the journey of ups and downs and roadblocks and successes. And as long as we don’t give up, we will continue to reach our goals.
Fallton Havenstonne 