Run the Race with Perseverance

If you want to get to the end, you have to run the race with perseverance. 

There are times when things have to be done and you truly are the only one who can do them. Sometimes, this involves tasks you may not want to do. But you persevere in order to move forward.

Keep going. You know that chipping away at it will bring it to completion. This period is temporary. Better activities will follow. But for now, just keep at it.

Keep a positive attitude about your task. You have the power to choose your response to situations. Choose an attitude of perseverance. Remember, perseverance builds character.

It has to be done. Strengthen yourself to do it and move forward.

Five Days of Coaching to Help You Run the Race with Perseverance

DAY ONE

Don't give up. Today may be a day when you feel like quitting on your task. Be encouraged. Hang in there. Keep going unless there is a really good reason to stop. Adopt a persevering attitude and seek the finish line.

The Coach asks: 

• It's once said in the Bible, "David encouraged himself in the Lord." Why did he do that? Because he needed to keep going! And you may need to keep going. 
• What is it that you are working on that MUST have your attention, and no one else can do it? What's the payoff, the end result that you expect? 
• Is there any good reason to stop, really? 
• Try to picture the finish line. What do you see?

DAY TWO

Examine the wearing things you have to keep working on.  Ask yourself how you might break it down into smaller parts or do something to change your perspective.  Change the way you relate to it and you will probably find a better way forward.

The Coach asks:

• This thing you must persevere on. What's involved? How long will it take? How big is it? Can it be broken down into smaller, more doable parts? 
• What is your attitude toward running the race with perseverance? What kind of a mindset dominates your thinking? If it does, how might it need to change? 
• What new opportunities might go along with bringing this to completion?
• What encourages you? How do you get that encouragement?  

DAY THREE

In similar situations, what has your attitude been? Positive? Negative? Your attitude is a choice. Choose a positive, forward moving attitude today. Practice it all day long. Get downright proactive about your task and tackle it with grace and decisiveness. You have to do it, so you may as well see it through to completion with the best attitude possible.

The Coach asks: 

• Keep that positive, forward focused attitude in front of you today. When it wanes, rekindle it. 
• How do you wish others to observe you as you go about completing this task? 
• What choices are yours? What control do you have over the various elements of execution? 
• Are you in the right location for working on this? Would a quieter place work better? What other adjustment would facilitate your work?

DAY FOUR

Some life situations can be painful. They don't fit into our timetable or go according to our wishes. A death, a life-altering illness or accident –  unlike a project, this will last forever.  Create a strategy for dealing with just such a situation in the  best manner possible. Hopefully it never happens, but if it does, it won't catch you totally unprepared and without a plan. Cultivate an attitude that you can do something positive with whatever happens.

The Coach asks: 

• Maybe you are dealing with something really tough as mentioned above? You expect it will continue as long as you can "see down the road." How can you best handle this? 
• What resources would help you run the race with perseverance over the long term? People? Systems? Support? Tools? Something else? 
• Perhaps everything is good now. As you think ahead to how fast life can change, whether in business or in personal life, how can you best be prepared? What does being resilient mean to you? How can you be resilient? 

DAY FIVE

Read, listen or watch about those who have persevered and overcome. Be inspired by their stories and keep pressing on.

The Coach asks:

• Who do you think of as someone who persevered? 
• Make a list of others who currently run the race with perseverance? 
• What do all these people have in common? 
• How do their examples inform your own thinking and attitude? 

Spiritual Reflection for Christian Leaders

As a Christian Executive Leadership Coach I encourage Christian leaders to reflect on God's Word to add to their wisdom.

• Jas 1:12  Blessed is the person who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

• Job 42:2  I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

• 2 Ch 15:7  But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

• Heb 12:1 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us ...

• Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

• 1 Ch 16:11  Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 

If you are a leader, executive, or senior level professional looking to work with a Christian Executive Coach, I invite you to connect with me here.

If appropriate, we can meet by phone or Zoom to discuss your situation.

Record Your Progress

This is your opportunity to track your progress. Start by asking yourself how important this practice is to you? Record the importance as - not at all, somewhat, fairly, highly or extremely. 

Now next to it ask yourself how well you carry out this practice. Record your performance as - very poor, poor, okay, good or very good. 

The things we track, we pay attention to. Across time, come back and record your new results. You will find that as you are intentional about making improvements, you will bump your "score" up higher. 

This is significant. Don't miss the opportunity to acknowledge your success, and use it as a springboard for making even further gain. 

Notes

Sometimes culture acts Pollyanish about delegating and getting things done. 

There ARE times when it has to be done and YOU are the one who has to do it. Maybe you're drained. Maybe you don't want to do it. Maybe it's an onerous task. 

BUT, it's yours to do and you must have to run the race with perseverance. Get it done. Make it happen. Do the work necessary and bring it to completion.