Persist

The word, "persistence" popped into my mind this afternoon as I was engaging in reflection and considering what to write.

The verb "to persist" is derived from the Latin, "persistere" which is a compilation of two concepts, "per" (thoroughly) and "sistere" (come or cause to stand still).

The one who persists stands for and on something and continues. The meaning comes to be, "to continue steadfastly."

Many have reflected upon the importance of persistence through the years because it seems to be one of the primary identifying characteristics of people who succeed. It differentiates the conquerors from the conquered, the victors from those who are defeated by life and its circumstances. Sometimes it is the only factor that differentiates them.     

"The secret of success is constancy to purpose." - Benjamin Disraeli.

To know your purpose and mission is to know how to prioritize your time, energy, and focus. Without a sense of purpose, it is extremely difficult to persevere.

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." - Dale Carnegie

Races are won by the differences in milliseconds between great competitors. Equal talent, unbridled commitment, and just a little more effort make the difference.

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas Alva Edison          

"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen." - Frank Llloyd Wright

His wok still stands and is studied by generations of architects because he lived out this philosophy of perseverance.

Real perseverance is really not about how we do when things are going well. It is about how we keep moving when there is resistance, adversity, and the absence of tangible results to encourage us. Winston Churchill saw England through some of her darkest days and said:

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

The operative word is "through."

That means that trouble is not your destination, it is merely the stretch of road you are on at the moment. Robert Frost put it this way: "The best way out is always through."

The oft-quoted presidential admonition that follows is ever worthy of repeating:

“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 derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” - Calvin Coolidge

Press on. That is on direct loan from Paul in the book of Philippians. Press on toward the mark, he admonishes us. In order to do that, one must know where and what the mark it is and value it highly.

People who press on are folks who have developed certain strengths of character that eneable to endure hardships, overlook adversity, and see beyond obstacles.

"Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel." - Napoleon Hill

We can learn the virtue of persistence from persistent people. The value of their words is validated by the quality of their lives..   

"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him." - Victor Frankl

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   

"Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world." - Jane Addams