A frequent occurrence of coming into contact with people in the midst of challenges is that you get to witness the strength of the human spirit. I’ve been thinking about the word and the trait of perseverance and trying to apply it to my own life and challenges. One of the dictionary definitions is,
“steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or
discouragement”.
If you try to take the movie image of the hero battling against all odds on the battlefield or the wronged victim slaying the figurative dragon, you can become tuned into the small or less dramatic acts of perseverance that go on every day. I see it on the physical side of course, as my clients often have to take valuable time out of their day to work on overcoming physical injuries or challenges. Most often, these can be painful recoveries that require strength of will and spirit as much as physical strength and stamina. However, the byproduct of developing a professional relationship with these people is that I hear so many of the other challenges that they or their loved ones and friends face. With so many interactions and stories involving difficult odds, you can’t help but be inspired by just what many people have to overcome on a daily basis.
I’m also finding an increase in openness from people, a willingness and eagerness to share. Maybe I’m more receptive now, but I feel such a strong kinship to us regular “joes” just trying to get by one day at a time. Many times, I can directly identify with their issues. For example, when I find people willing to talk about some of the academic or social challenges that their children face, it hits home with me, as my daughter has some of those challenges. Are these situations more prevalent today or are people just more willing to talk about it? Is it safer to disclose these types of things? Whatever the reason, it’s just so healthy to share and compare stories, not just to commiserate, but for very practical, helpful and encouraging exchange.
People tell me some very heavy things about their life and what they are going through. Some are incredibly heartbreaking. People facing serious medical or psychological challenges, financial losses or hardships. How many times have you said to yourself, “I could never handle that?” You know what, and I think I can say this with confidence, I’ll bet you could. Because that’s what most of us do. We bear down and we get through it. One of my friends recently discovered that his college age son has leukemia. Incredible family, all of them always smiling. I won’t say never waning but getting through it. PERSEVERANCE.
There are some pretty strong people getting through some serious situations, and most likely those people didn’t know how strong they were until they were looking up at that mountain and starting to climb.
“steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or
discouragement”.
If you try to take the movie image of the hero battling against all odds on the battlefield or the wronged victim slaying the figurative dragon, you can become tuned into the small or less dramatic acts of perseverance that go on every day. I see it on the physical side of course, as my clients often have to take valuable time out of their day to work on overcoming physical injuries or challenges. Most often, these can be painful recoveries that require strength of will and spirit as much as physical strength and stamina. However, the byproduct of developing a professional relationship with these people is that I hear so many of the other challenges that they or their loved ones and friends face. With so many interactions and stories involving difficult odds, you can’t help but be inspired by just what many people have to overcome on a daily basis.
I’m also finding an increase in openness from people, a willingness and eagerness to share. Maybe I’m more receptive now, but I feel such a strong kinship to us regular “joes” just trying to get by one day at a time. Many times, I can directly identify with their issues. For example, when I find people willing to talk about some of the academic or social challenges that their children face, it hits home with me, as my daughter has some of those challenges. Are these situations more prevalent today or are people just more willing to talk about it? Is it safer to disclose these types of things? Whatever the reason, it’s just so healthy to share and compare stories, not just to commiserate, but for very practical, helpful and encouraging exchange.
People tell me some very heavy things about their life and what they are going through. Some are incredibly heartbreaking. People facing serious medical or psychological challenges, financial losses or hardships. How many times have you said to yourself, “I could never handle that?” You know what, and I think I can say this with confidence, I’ll bet you could. Because that’s what most of us do. We bear down and we get through it. One of my friends recently discovered that his college age son has leukemia. Incredible family, all of them always smiling. I won’t say never waning but getting through it. PERSEVERANCE.
There are some pretty strong people getting through some serious situations, and most likely those people didn’t know how strong they were until they were looking up at that mountain and starting to climb.
I don’t know about you, but I also have this craving to seek out these types of transcendent stories. Honestly, I’m bucking the mainstream media and news because, I don’t know, when I watch or read those stories I feel kind of forced into being pulled down. So many of the reports involve conflict, crime, acrimony, and negativity. Am I less informed about the day-to-day? Maybe, but again, by working with the public, the big stories get tossed around. I get “on-line” through my clients, editorials included!! No, it’s not keeping my head buried in the sand. It’s making a conscious decision to put my mind into positive things, or at least avoid the negative things. I’m older now, I get to make that choice!!
My wife and I have discovered some cable channels that really bulk up on these types of positive stories. Not corny or canned stuff, but real stories of positive change, perseverance, overcoming. Many times the secret ingredient is a person or group of people that reversed direction, thought of something in a new way or got fed up with the status quo and reached across a previous barrier to help his fellow man. You’ve heard phrases like “restored faith in human decency” or ”renewed faith in his fellow man.” That’s what these positive stories do.
I’m tired of hearing about how bad people are, or that it’s every man for himself, look out for number one. I’m not buying it. Here’s my phrase again – “We’re all in this together.” When we look out for one another and PERSEVERE, we can do great things!! I’m blown away by some of the big social situations that are being changed, but it doesn’t discourage me from trying to impact our world one person, one smile, one pat on the back, one helping hand at a time. But I’m no hero, far from it. I’m just doing what all of you do on a regular basis. We just need to keep the momentum going so the little differences become big ones.
“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.”
― John Quincy Adams
My wife and I have discovered some cable channels that really bulk up on these types of positive stories. Not corny or canned stuff, but real stories of positive change, perseverance, overcoming. Many times the secret ingredient is a person or group of people that reversed direction, thought of something in a new way or got fed up with the status quo and reached across a previous barrier to help his fellow man. You’ve heard phrases like “restored faith in human decency” or ”renewed faith in his fellow man.” That’s what these positive stories do.
I’m tired of hearing about how bad people are, or that it’s every man for himself, look out for number one. I’m not buying it. Here’s my phrase again – “We’re all in this together.” When we look out for one another and PERSEVERE, we can do great things!! I’m blown away by some of the big social situations that are being changed, but it doesn’t discourage me from trying to impact our world one person, one smile, one pat on the back, one helping hand at a time. But I’m no hero, far from it. I’m just doing what all of you do on a regular basis. We just need to keep the momentum going so the little differences become big ones.
“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.”
― John Quincy Adams