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Let's face it, there are moments in life when we feel like we are sitting at the base of the proverbial mountain. The journey may seem both exciting and daunting, and possibly even down right overwhelming. Depending on what is before us, we may even attempt to avoid embarking. Of course, this can pertain to simple daily desirable or undesirable tasks as well as the pursuit of our life's most epic dreams.
The landscape may be beautiful, the climb may look treacherous, we may feel unprepared while doubting our abilities and feeling unmotivated to even begin. Yet, no matter what direction we turn, no matter where we try to run and hide... there before us stands the mountain. There comes a point, when we know we must face what is before us. It is inevitable!
One KEY Way to KNOW that time is NOW....
Nothing has worked to avoid it. The intervals between running from it in every direction become smaller. It starts appearing every direction we face. It shows up in our dreams. That little message between our subconscious and conscious begins to communicate. It gets to the point where other people are reminding us. To avoid it would mean to isolate ourselves into a smaller and smaller world. Yet, it shows up there too. The key way to know that NOW is the time to face the mountain, is when we begin to acknowledge there is a mountain before us and feel the feelings associated with what stands before us.
OK... so you are FACING the MOUNTAIN....NOW WHAT? How do you go forward when you are standing in, "I don't wanna, I CAN'T, I Don't Know HOW, I NEED... When this______ Then______!"
7 Tips to Perseverance:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT IS PRESENT
Stop running from whatever it is you are running from. STOP making excuses and LISTEN to yourself. What thoughts and feelings are present? What are you telling yourself about the situation? Be WILLING to consider alternate perspectives, and that just MAYBE you CAN! Open to learn and observe what is present.
IDENTIFY YOUR WHY
If you are at this moment, then there is some part of you that knows that climbing this mountain IS part of your path. It may be to reach the peak or may be about the journey. The peak may be your seat of confidence having seen something through to the end. The journey may be your joy of creating something that gives your life meaning and purpose. Identify your why for it will help you along the way when the terrain is steep, the air is thin, and your feet hurt from traversing rocky terrain. Recall your why in the toughest of moments to give you the drive to rise again and go the distance.
CREATE SPACE
Work with your natural rhythm. There is waxing and waning of inspiration / motivation and a need for rest / integration. Honor the ebb and flow of your organic energetic signature. When you are tired and need a break, take one. When you hit a wall and can't go on, STOP. When you feel uninspired, nourish yourself. When you are confused, frustrated, and begin procrastinating, DETOX. In the time and space between the doing and the not doing, when the attention is turned in other directions, within the integration there is a reorganizing of energies. Sometimes all that is needed is to create space and take a break. Surprisingly, when returning to the project the obstacle is removed. Other times, creating space looks like learning a new skill, seeking guidance on how to move through an obstacle or challenge, or discovering something inspiring. In learning and growth, space is needed to allow time for digestion and absorption. Trust the process and tune in to right time to return to action. Slow and steady this is NOT a race.
BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF
As the saying goes, "row row row your boat GENTLY down the stream". When climbing the mountain, look for downstream moments. This means, whatever effort you make is good enough. Being to hard or critical will NOT help you along. Just get the boat flowing with the least amount of effort possible and lighten up on yourself along the way. Do it right, but do not do it perfect. Perfection is the best way to thwart your efforts. Consider the perfection in imperfection and make your motto be "it's imperfectly perfect and beginning to flow in a way that feels good".
GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO MAKE MISTAKES
Consider there are no wrong steps, only the belief that there are. What if every step you take is actually the right one, especially when it feels like a mistake. In fact, what appear to be mistakes sometimes are the doorways flinging open to the golden road. It is so easy to manipulate, sabotage, and control our efforts through having a chiseled idea of how we expect something to be, feel, look like, or in what direction it must go. This blocks our ability to creatively think outside the box, to see new perspectives, and can siphon our energy and leave us depleted and not wanting to abandon the project. Mistakes are divine realignments that turn out to be blessings in disguise. Be willing to make and learn from them.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
If your mountain is the Mt. Everest of mountains, then do not try to scale the mountain in one leap. Break it down into small, manageable, simple segments. If it is overwhelming and confusing, then keep simplifying until it is clear what is before you. The more complex an already overwhelming process, the more unlikely you will finish, or even start. By looking at what is before you, that you CAN do, and taking simple action that you CAN complete will help you build confidence. One foot in front of the other, just take the first step and grow from there. Avoid diminishing your efforts and celebrate the progress you make no matter how small and insignificant you deem it to be. To an ant, it would be monumental.
DO IT ANYWAYS
Sometimes it is necessary to do it anyways. You may NOT feel like it! You may NOT feel inspired! You may NOT know what to do or how to do it, you may be doubting and judging the heck out of yourself, trembling in fear, eating to numb and everything to avoid IT.....and in these times, you meet yourself, face to face, and do it despite all that lives beneath the surface. Do NOT pretend it is not there. Do NOT bypass all of that truth. Instead, pull a chair up to the table and invite your FEAR to sit down across from you. Pour it a cup of tea and find out what lives within it. Thank it and let it know, that ready or NOT, you are persevering as you take the next step.
"The sense of accomplishment having persevered through what before felt monumental builds resilience, boosts confidence, and improves self worth."
Unless the road before you is along an abandoned desert highway, you do NOT NEED to go at it ALONE...
Even if the road is barren...
Eventually you encounter travelers along the way. The journey may be one you need to go on solo. Unless you are heading off literally to the high mountains to live in a cave, there will be interactions along the way. These interactions can be helpful or serve to either support your own derailment or give an excuse to derail. If entrusting a friend, companion, lover, partner, mentor, it is important they can remain objective and keep it in perspective. Asking a friend to support you who will not pose the questions, lend an ear, or set boundaries may not actually help you, yet make it harder to persevere.
When contemplating who to ask for support, take the opportunity to really tune in....
Ask yourself if the person you are thinking of will be the best support for your highest good, or simply keep you stuck in your pattern. Friends, lovers, partners do not always make for the most helpful accountability partners. Sometimes they make better enabling partners.
Alternatively, a Self Mastery, Spiritual, Life, Wellness and Accountability Coach can support you in navigating the journey, seeing perspective, and staying course. All you need to do is.... ASK!
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