When you are really working hard to achieve something, putting in a lot of time and effort, it can be very disheartening when you do not see the desired results as quickly as you would like to.
Not seeing results soon enough can make you want to throw in the towel and give up.
If you really believe in what you are doing and it is something that you are passionate about, persevere and do not give up. By giving up, how do you know that your desired outcome was not just round the corner?
I am a very determined individual and usually if I put my mind to something, I will do it. However, that was not the case earlier on this year. I am just over half way through studying for an MSc in Coaching Psychology. When studying the module on research methods, I hated it with a passion and really believed that I could not do it. In particular, I struggled with the quantitative research methods. Statistics have never been my forte.
I thought I was aiming a bit too high for what I was capable of and at one point felt like giving up. However, I am not a quitter so I looked at ways that I could grasp and understand what I was studying.
I recorded the lectures and would play them back very slowly, breaking them down in to small chunks until it stuck. As well as the recommended reading, You Tube became my new best friend and I would listen to lots of different lecturers on there in order to get a broader perspective and understanding.
I would also play the song ‘I just can’t give up now’ by the group Mary Mary over and over again to keep the motivation going. I had come too far to give up. Those of you who are on my Facebook page may recall me posting that video link on my page and that was the reason why.
I truly believe in what I am doing and it is something that I am very passionate about so giving up was not an option.
My hard work and efforts paid off and I not only passed the module but passed it with a merit.
What is it that you are struggling to achieve and feel like giving up on? Have you just set up in business but feel as if you are not getting anywhere? Are you aiming for promotion but keep getting knocked back? Whatever it is that you feel like giving up on, here are a few tips to keep you going: -
- Look at how much you have achieved so far and celebrate your successes to date
- Read testimonials of others who have overcome difficult journeys
- If you are stuck, consider hiring the services of a coach to help you identify what the blockages are and how you can overcome them
- Play inspirational music
- Reflect on your journey and learn from the set backs. Ask yourself questions such as ‘What could I do differently?’, ‘What is the lesson in this for me?’, ‘How could I approach it differently?’, ‘What is stopping me from moving forward?’
- Visualise what it will be like when you have achieved what you are aiming for. What will you be doing? How will you feel? What difference will it make in your life?
Finally…. many successful people have knock backs along the way but determination keeps them going. In 1985 Steve Jobs had to leave Apple, the company he started when it started to fail. He later returned and is credited with revitalising Apple in the 1990s. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper for his lack of creativity. Oprah Winfrey was demoted from her job as a news anchor after being told she was not fit for television. They all went on to achieve incredible success.
Have you over come a difficult journey to achieve your success? If so, please share your comments as to what it was that motivated you to keep going. Alternatively contact Carol here.
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