Growing Persistence

Growing Persistence

Recently I have found myself watching films with persistence at the heart of them. I watched Men of Honour which tells the story of story of Carl Brashear, the first African American Master Diver in the US navy in the 1950s when black recruits were normally given kitchen duties.

It was his persistence that led him to achieve his dream – he wrote hundreds of letters to be accepted onto the training and overcame numerous setbacks – he was told ‘no’ at every turn.

I realised that when it comes to persistence, I tend to take ‘no’ seriously – I decide they are right or that’s the way it is and I try and come up with new ideas or change my mind.

It occurred to me that I tend to do this too early – perhaps there is much more opportunity to persist than I realise?

What is your relationship with persistence?

I imagine that whatever our relationship is will be our children’s because they are learning how the world works through us.

Just being aware of this as a parent is helpful. If we focus ongoing them permission to be themselves and try stuff we are not sure about, it will go a long way to growing persistence.

What else could we do that might grow this characteristic?

1. When the going gets tough encourage them to keep going so they learn how they can  overcome the toughness.
2. Try not to give them the answer too quickly so they can discover it for themselves, this might be in doing Maths homework or in working out a friendship problem.
3. Take up a challenge with them – eg couch to 5k so they can discover what it feels like to persist.
4. Encourage them to try things even though it might be far fetched or seem impossible for them right now.
5. Role model it by choosing to persist with your own dreams and sharing the knock backs along the way with them.
6. Share stories of real life persistent hero’s with them (a great film is A Million Miles away).

What other ideas do you have?