PEr Chronicles: Pain is temporary. Quitting is permanent

Spend less of time on social media. According to Statista’s Global Consumer Survey, 1 in 5 said they wanted to do that which begets the question: has social media already peaked? Already two weeks into the year, health, diet, and fitness are the top New Year's resolutions planned for 2022.

How many people kept their 2021 New Year’s resolutions?

Only 8% of people will achieve their New Year’s resolutions. This is according to a study by the University of Scranton.

It’s hard to stick to a New Year’s resolution and/or life or work goal, if your heart’s not in it. Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways. But where it is unwilling, it will find a thousand excuses. People do not lack strength, they lack will.

A resolute determination is more than wishes, hopes or ambition; it must be a burning desire for the attainment of your chief aim and minor goals of life. Let your motto be “Tenacity of Purpose!”

History is full of examples of men and women who have redeemed themselves from disgrace, poverty and misfortune by a resolute determination. The consciousness if being looked upon as inferior, as incapable of accomplishing what others accomplish; has stung many famous failures into a determination which has elevated them far above those who laughed at them, as in the case of Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, Steven Spielberg, John Grisham, Sir James Dyson and hundreds of others.

Feel better? You should. We've all been there. It's all in your frame of reference and determination to keep moving forward, which is in your control.

My past couple of years were filled with upheavals in my life that led to an internal reckoning and, ultimately, to a journey of renewal. I am well aware that mine is a privileged tale. Many people whom I know have had far worse crises in their lives: injury, illness, oppression, violence and aching, unimaginable loss.

To transform ourselves, organizations, communities, we must face both the past and present with radical, even brutal honesty. Yet we must also preserve what is worth preserving. We must take risks and build resilience.

When athletes are training, they know that success is dependent upon more than just their physical performance – their mindset, ie staying focused, motivated and confident has a critical role to play. This is often referred to as their mental game or “inner game”

We all have an inner game. It refers to everything that goes on in our minds: our thinking patterns, our emotional regulation, beliefs, mindset and so on. It’s a combination of these factors that drives our decisions and influences the outcomes in our lives.

Much life physical fitness, the strength of our inner game – “our mental fitness” – varies throughout our lives and is equally something we have to work at.

Just as we exercise our muscles to become stronger, through focus and practice, we can modify and strengthen our mindset and thinking style to help us bounce back from the setbacks and challenges that come our way.

One touching story I treasure is that of two world class artists who were close friends. In old age, Pierre Renoir the great French painter suffered from arthritis, which twisted and cramped his hand. Henry Matisse, his artist friend, watched sadly while Renoir, grasping brush with only his fingertips, continued to paint even though every movement caused stabbing pain. One day, Matisse asked Renoir why he persisted in painting even at the expense of such torture. Renoir replied, “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”

Here’s purpose behind the purpose: he painted despite great personal discomfort because he knew the end product held special significance and would survive long after him.

I’ll be honest with you – I’m not always healthy. I’m not always happy. And I’m not always high performing. I could puff my chest out and tell you I’ve got all the answers, but I don’t have it all figured out. I’m a very real person (like you) who is just trying to make a difference in this world.

We’re not seeking perfection. We’re seeking progress. Change doesn’t always mean you’ll make progress but progress does always mean making a change.

It starts with assuming personal accountability for your own life or job and taking a genuine, honest look at the way you’re functioning, contributing, thinking and the decisions you’re making, daily. And if you’re not satisfied with these things, something needs to change and it will take time to change it. The faster you make changes, the more quickly your desired future comes to fruition and becomes a reality. Wasted time only delays the process.

And as you’re reading, it is my hope that when you get up from your chair, couch, desk or bed (or any other location you may be reading), you’ll start making that change immediately. What’s the use in waiting.

Let’s be clear about one thing – this article is NOT about someday. This post is about now. Not net month, next week, tomorrow, or even later today. NOW. There are seven days in a week and Someday isn’t one of them.

In summary, success didn’t come easy for me, so everything I’m talking about here, I say as a professional and as a person who has walked the walk!