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200 words, believe, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, endurance, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, life, perserverance, Purpose, strategy
Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~ Newt Gingrich
When I saw the above quote on my Twitter feed, I felt encouraged!
I’ve never minded putting in the hard work it takes to get something I really want.
In fact, I had a boss who called me a workhorse!
My struggle comes when I’ve done everything I know to do and my desired outcomes do not come to pass.
More accurately, when my desired outcomes do not come to pass – immediately.
Patience may be a virtue, but it’s not naturally one of mine.
But I’ve been learning, over the last few years, to trust the process. To do what I can and then wait. Wait for the pieces to fall into place or for better pieces to reveal themselves.
I’m learning that some things take time to germinate.
They need to ferment like a good wine.
The yeast takes time to rise the bread before it can be baked.
Learning to walk and talk and drive a car takes practice.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Where do you get stuck? How do you push through?
talktodiana 
Ah! I have certainly learned the meaning of that word – perseverance – over the past three years.
It has depths to it that I would never have known could be possible.
“Wait for … better pieces to reveal themselves” is what keeps pulling me through.
Great post 🙂
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Yes Elizabeth, I’d say you’ve earned your PhD in perseverance!
Diana xo
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Sometimes the best thing for me is to bike home and not bring work home at all. Let it sleep.
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I agree Jean, something physical usually helps me too! ❤
Diana xo
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Nice post! The metaphors are wonderful.
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Thanks Sheryl! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana love that image of the workhorse. I can relate, watching my husband work long hours in a physical job that is low pay. I am in awe of his determination to get things done and he never complains about how hard he works to put food on our table. I need patience too, hoping to find him a place where he is truly appreciated. I watch and wait for the universe to open up for him. Someone who works that hard deserves a break. I hope you are rewarded for the hard work you do too.
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Thanks Kath! I can feel your love and respect for your husband entwined in your words. I hope and wait for the universe to open up for him as well! ❤ ❤
Diana xo
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My tendency is to get stuck in 2 places: 1) when I encounter the seemingly impossibly hard stuff–the stuff I don’t know how to do and have to learn before I can move forward; and 2) when the project is huge, requiring a long time and many steps before results are seen.
How I push through: 1) I decide that I CAN learn this thing, and then I sit down and learn it even when I don’t want to; 2) I break the project into smaller steps, and celebrate the accomplishments along the way. Usually I need my husband to help me break down and prioritize the steps. I tend to thing they’re all equally important, but he has a way of looking at them in order, and helps me to take the first thing first, the second, second, and so on.
It all goes back to my original problem of not wanting to do whatever I don’t FEEL like doing. I think I’ve conquered that problem; I do a lot of things every day, regardless of whether I feel like doing them or not. I guess it’s an aspect of self-discipline and self-control; both of which did not come naturally to me.
Good food for thought, Diana. ❤
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Thanks for sharing your experience Tracy! You and your husband sure complement each other! ❤
Diana xo
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Yeah, sometimes patience is not as easy as other times… Especially when you’ve already put in all the hard work. 🙂 But you have some excellent ideas to help maintain the focus. 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Rachel!
Diana xo
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I hear you, Diana. Part of the challenge is in the avenues in life we choose to pursue (an unpublished writer’s life can sometimes be seen – and felt – as, well, a bit masochistic). But even in our personal lives, there are times we have to make up our minds to push through and hope for something better. You may find my latest post helpful, as a reminder that a person’s usual optimistic mindset and intrinsic happiness can return over time. 🙂
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Oh Jennifer, thank you for your continued friendship and encouragement! ❤
Diana xo
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Right back at you, sweetie! ❤
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Great Diana! Like your metaphors. Makes a lot of Common Sense.
What motivates me to push through? I realize pushing through is the only course of action, since I’m confronted with the very need to do so.
-Alan
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Thanks Alan and love your attitude!
Diana xo
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I got really stuck inside the idea that I was inside a tragic melodrama when Ants had to stay in the nursing home for good. But now, miraculously it seems to me, this is our norm and now that acceptance has taken root, happiness has begun to return.
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I am so happy to hear this Julie. Of course it would be wonderful if it wasn’t so, but I love how you are cherishing the moments in time. You won’t regret doing that. ❤
Diana xo
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I often find myself stuck that is when I need to breath in a nice steady and close my eyes and just let things flow
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slow, deep breaths are always a good idea Jo-Anne – thanks!
Diana xo
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I have found trusting in a bigger picture or plan has always helped me Diana, to understand I can step out and test the waters of a new idea or dream but I can’t know or control whether it is mine to keep.
So I trust it will come to me if it’s meant for me and let go if it’s not. It works everytime and yes trusting can be difficult at times! Great post.
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A great perspective Karen – thank you! ❤
Diana xo
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Nic e topic Diana. There are so many dimensions to this. As Val mentioned knowing when to push is always important. Understanding our energy level is also important … do we actually have the energy for everything we need to push on. Picking our battles is important as well. Finally, are we picking our battles or those that someone else could help us with? Do we choose the right style of engagement (team, individual, delegation)?
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Definitely Ian, you make some very good points – I agree within a team setting. 🙂 Right now, I’m the total team! ❤
Diana xo
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Sometimes its pushing … and other times its letting go.
That’s the beauty of life!
I’m not sure if Newt go this message though 😉
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I really don’t know much about Newt Val. Yes sometimes letting go is the way to go as well. ❤
Diana xo
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this reminds me of the quote by Mother Theresa which goes something like: “We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful”
But sometimes the workhorse does get a carrot 🙂
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Love that quote Bill and this workhorse does get enough carrots when she is patiently waiting!
Diana xo
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I won’t say I am the hardest working out there, but I do work quite a bit. What gets to me is someone not doing their part in order for a task to be successful, especially if that part is as small pressing just one button.
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Oh yes Z-lady – I hear you on that one!
When that happens, how do you push through?
Diana xo
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There are times I can circumvent that by taking the action needed myself. However, if there is nothing I can do about the situation, I just tell myself to calm down as I have done my part. It’s not easy, but I have learnt to calm myself down (most of the time:) at least)
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Wow good for you! I’ve had to calm myself down in situations like that as well. ❤
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You keep getting more and more wise, Diana. I, too, want to see the results of my nose to the grindstone YESTERDAY! I think that is the result of my career working for the daily newspaper where your work showed up on the doorstep the very next morning. And how about this Internet, where you write, hit publish and IT’S THERE! Phew. When this is your gig, that makes patience even tougher to nourish in the personal garden. Thanks for your adding to your enormous book of wisdom, my friend. 🙂 ❤ Happy Sunday.
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It was a fellow blogger who suggested to me some time ago that things take time to germinate. This quote reminded me of that Mark and gave me some much needed encouragement!
So glad you enjoyed the post. ❤
Diana
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