May 14, 2024

The Benefits Of Being More Persistent

Anyone who has ever tried to accomplish anything knows it’s easier to give up than it is to persist. Persistence is the ability to keep going after a difficult or disappointing moment. And it’s an important trait for anyone trying to succeed.

Persistence is more than simply hanging in there when everything seems like it’s stacked against you. Interestingly, being more persistent can have positive benefits. It can help you build self-confidence and resilience, which makes it easier to handle any adversity that comes your way.

Moreover, those benefits don’t just come in one area either. Persisting builds skills that are useful in many situations, which means the benefits of being more persistent are widespread. Here are some of the ways persistence can benefit you:

Persistence Builds Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is important for successful people in all walks of life. While having confidence in your abilities can be helpful in any field, it’s especially crucial for those trying to break through into new ones.

As a woman, if you’re in an industry that’s dominated by men, for example, you might have a hard time not only getting work in that field but also feeling confident in your abilities. Being persistent can help build self-confidence providing you with a greater chance to succeed.

Persistence Strengthens Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, and it’s a quality that successful people consistently display. The more you’re able to bounce back from setbacks, the more likely you’ll be to succeed. Think of it this way: A setback is just a setup for a comeback. And resilience, fueled by persistence, is the bridge between the two.

Persistence Improves Decision-Making Skills

Decision-making skills are important in any field. They’re important in life in general! In many areas of work, certain rules and regulations must be followed.

Perhaps you’ve come to the conclusion that your employer’s guidelines don’t make sense because they’re outdated. You’re intent on changing them but you receive opposition and pushback. However, persistence won’t let you give up! Instead, you make the decision to develop a short report outlining your changes, which are adopted because you highlighted how they can positively impact the company’s profits.

Persistence can help you Achieve your Goals Faster

Persistence can help you achieve your goals a lot faster. If your persistence levels are low then you may find that you are putting things off too much and delaying your progress to goal achievement.

Some people set goals and then give up on them for a while because they stop when difficulties and opposition present themselves. Persistence fuels momentum and the Law of Inertia which keeps you going.

Persistence Reduces Stress and Anxiety

While persistence can help you build self-confidence, another way it benefits you is by reducing stress and anxiety. You might feel frustrated when you’re stressed, or you might feel anxious about things you don’t have control over. However, persisting — the ability to push through difficulties, opposition, and discouragement — can help reduce those feelings of anxiety and stress.

Persisting means you keep moving forward no matter how high the wall of opposition. Being more persistent compels you to keep trying, keep exploring, keep experimenting because you’re convinced that you’re “this close” to the end goal. In this state of being, stress and anxiety can’t find a place in your mind because it’s already occupied by confidence, hope, and encouragement.

Persistence Enhances Cognitive Abilities

Another way persistence benefits you is by enhancing your cognitive abilities. Cognitive abilities include things like your attention span, your ability to concentrate, and problem-solving skills which are enhanced when you’re persistent.

“Ambition is the path to success, persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” (William Eardley IV)

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If you like this content, check out my article about embracing uncertainty and successfully navigating change at: 

https://theunreliablemind.substack.com/p/embracing-uncertainty-navigating 

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