Here we are again with Monday’s Mindful Quote. I was just reading through Therese Borchard’s book Beyond Blue when I came across quote that struck me and I thought may do the same for you. Here are a couple quotes on perseverance:

From a Buddhist Saying:

“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.”

and

From Anonymous:

“The great oak was once a little nut who held its own ground.”

Life throws us struggles, sometimes more, sometimes less. Some people are born into this world with a genetic prevalence for anxiety, depression, bipolar, among others, while others grow into these states of mind and body through the course of traumatic nurture.

However, one thing that is a truism is that most of us do not have much patience for perseverance in the face of not feeling well and perceived setbacks. Our negative self-talk is so convincing and believable we truly believe “things will never get better” or “I’m a failure” or the classic, “What’s the point?”

It’s almost as if at those times we need to access something outside of ourselves, someone who is on steady ground to hold our hands and say, “Here, this is the way, just take my hand I’ll lead you there, step-by-step.”

One practice that is helpful in accessing this wise part of yourself who can point the way or be a guide is to ask yourself if there is a person or sentient being out there, living or dead, who you look up to. Some people say, God, others say, Buddha, while others say Mother Theresa, their parents, Jesus, a good friend, etc. …

Then ask yourself, what would they say to do? Often whatever that answer is points the way to some action that can lead you “facing in the right direction” and how “all we have to do is keep on walking.”

When things are difficult for you, what is the right direction for you? Who do you look up to as a guide?

Please share your thoughts about this as your entry below will likely help many others who are struggling with the very issue of perseverance in working with their struggles. In other words, your additions create a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of The Now Effect, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions at Work App, the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations. Join The Now Effect Community for free Daily Now Moments, Weekly Updates and tips and free access to a Live Monthly Online Event with Elisha Goldstein, PhD.

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