“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in and day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” says author and psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth, who has carried out extensive research on the subject.
In a sprint, the goal is always in sight. In a marathon, the runner has to trust what they cannot yet see. That is why so many marathoners call it quits around the 34-kilometre mark. They hit the proverbial wall, and the finish line is nowhere in sight.
What do you do when everything inside of you wants to give up? What do you do if you want to cross the finish line – whether it be in a marathon, business, or some other area of life? Perseverance requires two essential elements: pace and purpose.
Pace involves what you do before you hit the wall. You have to focus on your ‘should’ pace, rather than your ‘could’ pace. Your ‘could’ pace is how fast you can run, but just because you can does not mean you should. In the early part of the race, you have to pace yourself, protecting your reserves for later. Your ‘should’ pace is slightly slower in the first 10 kilometres to ensure that you have appropriate reserves in the last 10 kilometres.
Purpose is the second element to remember when you hit the wall. Purpose is the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’. It is the reason you signed up for the marathon in the first place. Focusing on your purpose ignites your intrinsic motivation, and gives you the extra push you need to keep putting the proverbial foot in front of the other. When you feel completely depleted, purpose is often all you have left to get you across the finish line.
Naturally, pace and purpose also work together in other areas of life where you need to persevere. This may include your spiritual journey, your relationships with others, your finances, your health and your career, to name just a few. By practising pace and purpose, you will be prepared for when you hit the unanticipated ‘34-kilometre mark’, which will inevitably show up whenever you are doing anything worthwhile. It is important to develop a perseverance perspective before we are able to see the fruits of our labour. Again, this happens by identifying a clear purpose, and then initiating a sustainable pace. It’s simple, really – and a skill that you can apply throughout your life.
When we are young, we feel an endless supply of energy to do what we need to. As we get on in years, our pace naturally changes. There are obviously things we can do to take care of ourselves – but the longer we live, the more we will have to lean on purpose to keep us going. A clear, inspired purpose is the ultimate fuel for long-term perseverance.
To leverage purpose and pace so you can finish the marathon in the most important areas of your life, consider these questions:
Why did I begin this race in the first place?
What larger purpose is at stake if I quit now?
What are the benefits of completing this race?
How is my current pace draining and depleting me?
What shifts in my pace would make the greatest sustainable impact?
Your answers to these questions will help you pinpoint the adjustments you need to make to help keep purpose and pace in focus. When you hit the 34-kilometre mark, you will most likely be reminded of every reason you should quit. You may long to return to an easier time, when you enjoyed comfort and convenience. But applying purpose and pace will keep you from looking back. Pace will give you the energy to keep going, and purpose will give you the reason to keep going. With these front of mind, you will be equipped to persevere up the steep hills that life will inevitably bring into your path.
You need not run the race alone, get in touch with Nkulu who will act as your champion and motivator.