“The struggle of the mind to keep itself free from every sort of bondage"
Gardner Murphy
We are taught that perseverance wins the ribbon...and taught rightly so, truly the merits of perseverance are beyond reproach,… but what happens when perseverance becomes the goal….is it possible that we so greatly value perseverance that we turn a blind eye as conditions change and other more viable options appear.
It is said that if a dog spends hours locating and digging for a buried bone and at the very moment his nose discovers its scent and he knows he is minutes away from sinking his teeth into it, someone offers him a different bone… with tail wagging he will happily accept the new bone and walk away from his labors.
Would we...if we have been arduously struggling with a task and as we arrive at the point where we know completion is near …if we are given the option of finishing on our own or being handed the outcome...what would we choose?
For many of us we would choose to finish …in that case have we traded the original goal of a specific outcome for the goal of finishing what we have begun.
That being said ..is perseverance a curse?…a hindrance? ..hardly, the absents of perseverance can guarantee failure at a high rate. Perseverance equates success… isn‘t that the mantra we have practiced, from the beginning we are taught perseverance is a quality found in the most successful, it is the quality we strive to incorporate in all of our challenges. However… is it possible, that cloaked in a cape of perseverance we could be stifling other options…failing to utilize newly acquired information that could positively alter our direction or change our result?
The concern is perseverance for perseverance sake and the self imposed blinders we wear to aid us in keeping our attentions on task, can also prevent us from see other viable options available in achieving our goals... or perhaps even a new ...more suitable goal.
The question to ask is... when a new vision/direction/option comes into play…how do we discern if it is merely a distraction or in fact a truly better alternative?
It is trust …trust, clarity and an open mind …that should guide and govern our productivity and plans. As we, the architect of the plan it is incumbent on us to continuously evaluate the methods and appropriateness of the plan, if we find, thru our diligence, or others, a better way…a different way, we must not be afraid to shift gears…and we certainly should not allow the feeling of failure to dictate our action…for the success of one idea is often borne of the fruits from failure of another.
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14 comments:
Hi Suzi!
This is a great post. I am a big believer in persistence for the reason that it will present us with new opportunities. The only reason we are ever met with temporary defeat when trying to achieve a goal, is because our plans are not sound to begin with. Through the use of persistence you will be presented with new plans that move you towards your goal.
The thing to remember is to only accept those opportunities that will bring you closer to your goal and that is where you have to be brave and have a little faith in yourself.
Persist... but allow yourself to recognize when a better plan is being handed to you!
Julieanne
Hello Suzi,
Wow! A beautiful article you have posted. Yes, the author is absolutely right when he says that perseverance isn't the only key. Life had taught me that. These days, the mantra in the corporate world isn't just " Work Harder, but its more of Work Smarter." Don't go on working like a donkey, ( Psst! I don't mean to offend that animal; for I have nothing against it :) ), only using a metaphor.
We both seem to be on the same path.... may be the roads you and me have taken might be different, but our vision and objective seems to be synonymous.
Keep up the good work. I'll keep posting new posts whenever I do not have " any fish to fry ".
Thanks for your comment.
Love,
CoolDeep
P.S: I just posted this article today. You can read it whenever you are free. http://problem-n-solution.blogspot.com/2008/09/written-and-created-destiny-article.html
CoolDeep,
Thanks for visiting. Work smarter...that should be the mantra for all of us. Unfortunately, for some the learned work ethic had more to do with working hard than working smart …and to many employers and teachers ..thinking and questioning were view as less desirable than accepting and protecting the status quo.
This culture is changing and we as a society will only benefit from the change.
Suzi
PS…I am the author of all my posts...with the exception of the quote I use to start each essay.
Juileanne..."Be brave and have faith in yourselves"
Faith and bravery, imagine if those qualities were standard issue at birth...how different would most peoples lives be?
Suzi
Hi Suzi,
This is a great post! Last summer I finished my administration degree. It was a hard task to teach all day, go to class at night, to be a mom and wife at home and complete my assignments. But perseverance and working smart helped me to finish. I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Whether or not I ever become a school administrator, I have a greater sense of the workings of a school district. The knowledge gained helps me to do my current job better and I got a pay raise to boot anyway- just for acquiring the credits! This was a very inspiring post. Thanks!
Maureen:)
http://healourlives.blogspot.com
Good morning Suzi, thanks for visiting my blog and for your kind compliment.
Yesterday I wrote a long comment to this post but it seems to have vanished. Which means...it wasn't necessary. :)
Great blog, Have a wonderful weekend!
ahh.. i think i see what might have happened. Your comments require word verification and i probably did not notice and somehow lost the page...
lydia
Am sorry, but you are all buying into this dream world!
You are actually believing that this dream is real, or reality!
Persistence in an insane world and system? Persistence in what?
This world is created by the ego! It is insane! What are you trying to justify?
Wake up!
Give up persisence. Give up control. Instaed surrender to the the Divine Nature, who you truly are. Do not choose the system of the ego, the separate, separative, self! Stop this nonsense!
JS
johnski too.
Hi Suzi,
This is one of the most beautiful article I've come across this month, that is why I am here posting you a second comment.
I would want to thank you infinitely for making me aware and realize this essential key to live life.
Thank you once again.
Love,
CoolDeep
lydia, I would love to read what you had written, please try again when you have the time.
Suzi
js...whats your reality?
suzi
Maureen...congratulations...that is a great accomplishment, and what a great role model to your students and children, to have a goal for the goals sake not necessarily for the anticipated reward. suzi
Cooldeep...thank you for your most kind words. It mean a lot!
Suzi
Hi Suzi,
And thanks! However, I don't remember much if anything, of what I wrote. But, I will reply as if it is new to me..? Ahh the wonders of getting older and more forgetful.
I guess my reply will be different than most so far which doesn't make any of us wrong or right, just different.
I agree with this: "The concern is perseverance for perseverance sake and the self imposed blinders we wear to aid us in keeping our attentions on task, can also prevent us from see other viable options available in achieving our goals... or perhaps even a new ...more suitable goal."
That has pretty much always been my way through life. In doing this, I feel that I have had so many more opportunities to learn, explore and experience new things. I was never really goal oriented, so maybe this is why.
As far as discerning if something were merely a distraction or a truly better alternative, well all things are a distraction in their own way, right? It would not be possible to know this anyway unless we were psychic. In fact, knowing that there is a teacher who reads your blog is itself distracting me from my goal of completing this reply. (fear of proper spelling grammar etc..JUST kidding) But seriously, I really believe that simply trusting that you have made the right choice is usually the way to go.
The example with the dog and the bone would likely fit my dog, but for a different reason. He would remember the one nearly dug up, and also accept the new one. This way..he has two bones. And he has done this...dogs are smarter than we give them credit ;)
Nice article. Thanks for the (2nd) read. :)
Hi Suzi
Thanks for your thanks :) I am still learning myself but am glad to have helped.
Speak soon!
Julieanne
PS : JS - interesting that you think you have it right. I would say that to insist one way is right or wrong is exactly what the ego loves.
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