One day in July when I was driving to work, I passed a person riding their bicycle. I try to practice present moment mindfulness each morning on my drive to work as part of my prep for the day. I took note of the cyclist, mostly because I am also a cyclist and my attention goes there easily. Staying open and present moment focused, I allowed my attention to note them and then attend to whatever came into my field of awareness next. It’s mid-August now and I continue to see this same cyclist one-three times/week on my mindful drive to work or wherever I’m going before 8am. Their consistent presence has me thinking about perseverance!
Perseverance is one of the Character Strengths identified in Positive Psychology research. Perseverance is the persistent effort of doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Or more simply, finishing things once they are started. The thought is that someone with strong perseverance is more likely to work towards a goal despite difficulties and thus achieve it—that is, persist. Can we develop perseverance? I read some research that showed practicing mindfulness can contribute to persistence through the cultivation of nonjudgement and nonreactivity. The research focused on self-regulation and self-awareness. In formal mindfulness-based training, we teach about using awareness of our cognitive, physical and emotional states to practice nonreactivity and nonjudgement so that we can choose skillful responses to whatever is going on within or around us. Through the practices of awareness, nonjudgement and nonreactivity, we are more likely to engage the parasympathetic nervous system so that our body comes back to homeostasis and allows for reasonable thinking and choices. The link to an article provided below reinforces these concepts of how our mindfulness practice can assist with perseverance and persistence.
More on nonjudgement and nonreactivity next month. In the meantime, I am enjoying the zest, curiosity, and appreciation that my morning cyclist gifts me with whenever I see them on the road. This mindful practice of noting what is arising (zest, curiosity, appreciation) has occurred so many times now on that drive, that I am able to call up these characteristics at other times in the day/week when I need a boost. I can experience the qualities in my body as well as my mind and it impacts my perspective and emotional state. Perhaps you can use this example in your own life to be curious and explore and be aware of opportunities that arise that fuel some touching into positive qualities such as courage, wisdom, kindness, or persistence.
Wishing you well,
Karen
These links provide information on and a practice around perseverance and persistence:
This is so well written and, for me, came at a good time.