“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”
- Frank A. Clark
It has been said that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. It's the opposite of giving up. It means that, especially when there are obstacles or setbacks, some people will double down on their efforts while in pursuit of a certain goal. They may have something to prove to themselves or perhaps to the rest of the world. They are not going to allow anyone or anything prevent them from accomplishing their goal. Some people simply refuse to give up or give in. Instead, they choose to give it all they got.
So what is it that separates the determined from the defeated? Or better yet, what prevents us from initially being determined to eventually declaring defeat? There are always justifiable reasons to call it quits, and our priorities and preferences change. Sometimes we realize we just don't want it bad enough. If we did, we should be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve our desired outcome. A common theme of my posts on this topic is determining how bad we really want something. With enough desire, we should be willing to do what it takes.
Our determination and desire is tested when we experience roadblocks and setbacks. We question whether or not it is worth the effort. We may even question our ability to achieve whatever it is we set out to do. Depending upon what it is we are after, there are typically going to be some obstacles along the way. Anything worth having does not usually come easy. It requires a certain resolve and willingness to keep pursuing our goal, no matter what, until we have reached our destination. Again, how bad do we want it?
We each know how bad we want whatever it is we are after, because if we want it bad enough, we will keep pursuing it until we achieve it. There is not much of an in-between. Either we want it bad enough or we don't. The obstacles are just a measuring stick for how bad we want it. If we are willing to overcome the roadblocks and setbacks, we show just how much we wanted it. Our perseverance and resilience are what help us get there. We just have to want it bad enough.
More Wellness!
Lifehack: 5 Powerful Tips for Overcoming Adversity
Positive Psychology: Perseverance in Psychology: 4 Activities to Improve Perseverance
