Mike just got his math test from the week before. The grade he got was a “C”. He can barely contain his disappointment because he studied for this test for quite some time. He just can’t believe it. He feels that he doesn’t even care if he tries or not. Even when he tries very hard, he still doesn’t get good grades. What’s the use of trying?
Granted, he is very disappointed when things don’t go as planned; especially when you make a good effort.
So how do you keep going when the going gets tough? Would you call it “dropping out” too if you were in Dan’s shoes or would you continue to study for your exams despite the poor grade you received on this exam?
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” -Tommy Lasorda
1. Keep an open mind
In Mike’s case, I hope you agree that it’s too early to throw in the towel. It is important that you keep trying until you get the result you want. When you say, “I quit,” you turn off your inner dynamo and your determination goes. Giving up is the easiest (and most tempting) thing to do! Do not give up! Keep trying!
The only thing you can do to reach your goal is to keep an open mind. You will be more aware of ideas and opportunities around you that could help you get closer to your goal. Once you say “I quit”, you are basically closing your mind to any other way to get closer to your end result and have any progress.
Just like in the math test example, if Dan keeps an open mind and chooses to keep studying for tests, he can find new ways to study, ways that work better for him to help him retain information, because not everyone learns on the fly. Same way. There is always more than one way to do something!
2. Trial and error
One thing to remember when you get discouraged is that you actually tried it in the first place. You made an effort! If you got a result you didn’t like, you’ll need to adjust your action based on your result until you get a
best result Especially at the beginning of something, sometimes we feel overwhelmed and think that we will never get there. Yes, you may have temporary setbacks, but if you learn from them and change your actions, you will get what you want.
Colonel Sanders was rejected over 1,000 times before someone bought his famous chicken recipe.
The Wright brothers tried it many times before taking flight.
Thomas Edison attempted to invent the light bulb over 9,999 times. He said every try showed him another way
how not to invent the electric lamp. He didn’t see it as mistakes, but rather as each trial as progress towards his ultimate goal. What a powerful mindset!
The spirit of “sticking to it” (in correct English, the word is “tenacity”) wins! Every time you try again, you WIN!
3. Questions are the answer!
When you run out of ideas it’s time to start asking questions. Who do you ask the questions? Guess what, it’s YOU! That’s right, you have to start asking yourself the questions and you will get more answers. The trick is to ask yourself better questions so that
you will get better answers! what do I want to say with that?
Ok, let me give you an example and let’s use the above scenario about Mike and his math test. Now you might ask yourself, “How come I never get a good grade? How come I don’t do well in school?” The trick is that when you ask those kinds of useless questions, you’ll get answers that are just as useless as “Because I’m stupid, because I’ll never learn it, because I’m no good, etc.”
Now let me ask you a few questions:
“Are those answers going to help you? How are they going to make you feel? Are they going to make you take action and try again?
Here’s a better way to ask yourself questions: “What can I try differently next time to help me study?” Keep the questions positive!
For greater efficiency, try to write the questions. Ask yourself the questions before you go to sleep at night, and often the answers will come the next day, since your brain had time to think about it while you slept! Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? Keep asking “better” questions and “better” answers will come!
4. Orientation
Here is another question. “Who can help you?”
Is there anyone who has already achieved the same goal? Find them and ask what they did to get there. Asking costs nothing. If they don’t help you, find someone else!
And guess what, chances are these people didn’t always do well at first. The difference is that they continued, no matter how small the action seemed at the time. Once he has the determination to persist until he gets what he wants, he too will have more self-confidence.
5. Excuse me!
One surefire way to keep you from starting or even continuing toward your goal is to make up an excuse. Let’s be honest; there is always an excuse ready for you to use if you wish. It’s easy to think of apologies. If you find yourself making excuses, take a minute and see that you really are kidding yourself!
6. Imagine it!
I know that in order to make your goals a reality, you will most likely have to venture outside of your comfort zone. That can be scary and not feel very uncomfortable at first! Keep focusing on your target benefit to push yourself further.
Take a minute every time you feel overwhelmed and DREAM of your goal! See yourself already being there. Get a very clear picture of how you will look, where you will be and even how you will feel. It’s fun to dream and will help you make your dream come true!
You deserve the best in life! You deserve to get what you dream of and only you can make it come true! It’s your birthright to have it all! No one has the right to take that away from you no matter what they told you!
Stay in the game. don’t give up don’t give up Don’t succumb to pressure. You may need to take a breather from time to time to help you get your momentum back and that’s fine as long as you get back into the game again. Any dream worth having is worth persevering with! You have it within you to create your dreams and your future! Go ahead and make it happen!
“If you can dream it you can do it!” -Walt Disney
“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his greatest surprises, is to discover that he can do what he fears he cannot do.” -Henry Ford
PS: Just one last note so you know when it really isn’t recommended to keep trying. It’s when you’re trying to change someone other than yourself. It’s great to help a friend and do things for him sometimes, I just know that in the end it’s really his responsibility to take care of himself and have his own goals. It’s not going to work in the long run if you do it for them.
