Persistence

Persistence is a word that seems to be everywhere I look! It was written about in the last 3 books I have read. It was written on a sign I saw in the gym while on vacation. It was written behind the Delta desk in the airport………so I decided it must be worth writing about.

In golf and in life you just cannot succeed without persistence. It is the “fuel” needed to accomplish anything. Persistence is a state of mind, therefore, it can be cultivated. I have written a lot about Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell and his AMAZING persistence. I think of our children and the persistence it has taken for them to play golf at the college level (this I have witnessed first-hand). Recently I read that to make it as a star on Broadway is the “ultimate” persistence. The article I read talked about the thousands of men and women who migrate to New York with a “boatload” of talent but never make it! The difference boils down to the ones who are willing to “stick it out” until they get their break, being turned down in auditions hundreds, sometimes thousands, of times. Yes, I said thousands! I sat and contemplated this for a while, a thousand NO’s? and you still keep going?…….Now I call that persistence! The article made the point that “cultivating persistence” in those individuals came from their “personal desire” which outweighed the No’s and cultivated a “personal fuel” that fed their “persistence!” There are thousands of examples of persistence, but there are millions of examples of people who fail because they lack the “cultivation of persistence” in their own lives.

Have you entered 2014 sick and tired of being sick and tired? Or maybe you feel you are “stagnant,” not necessarily going backwards but not moving forward either, then maybe you should look in the mirror. Be courageous enough to look intently and see if you need to develop “persistence!”

The following is a checklist to see if you have any weaknesses that hinder your persistence.

1.  Failure to recognize and clearly define exactly what one wants or wants to do.
2.  Procrastination.
3.  Lack of interest in acquiring specialized knowledge.
4.  Indecision. The habit of “passing the buck” (backed by making excuses), on all occasions instead of facing issues squarely.
5.  The habit of relying upon excuses instead of creating definite plans for the solutions to problems.
6.  Self-satisfaction. ( Thinking self is enough and there is no need to constantly improve)
7.  Indifference, usually reflected in one’s readiness to compromise on all occasions, rather than meet opposition and fight it.
8.  The habit of blaming others for one’s mistakes. (DENIAL)
9.  Weakness of desire, due to neglect in the right motives that drives action; or having too much of a cushion so that one does not feel REAL HUNGER AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONESELF.
10.  Willingness, even eagerness, to quit at the first sign of defeat. (fear of failure)
11.  Lack of organized plans placed in writing. ( lazy)
12.  The habit of not moving on ideas, or to grasp opportunity when it stares you in the face.
13.  Wishing instead of willing. ( A real form of laziness or an attitude of being spoiled and thinking success will knock on your door)
14.  General absence of ambition to be, to do and to own.
15.  Searching for shortcuts, trying to get without giving.
16.  Fear of Criticism.

The fact is that we all experience some of these, but the goal is to lessen and seek to get rid of any of these that are holding us back. If you are a Back 9 reader or have just joined us, scroll back and read through the series on living in your God-created Strength Zone. Then going forward in the New Year, examine and evaluate where you are in life, honestly! The following are some great scriptures to write down and put everywhere as you seek to develop Personal “PERSISTENCE!”

Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Romans 5:2-5, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

1 Timothy 6:11 “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.”