The things worth pursuing aren’t always fun in the pursuit. There’s a lot of drudgery work. A lot of boring work.
To use a weightlifting metaphor, if you want to get stronger, you must do your big lifts and the accessory work and the rehab drills. Consistency and persistence are essential to reaching your long-term goals.
The sign of Capricorn is symbolized by the sea goat, which is persistent in its climb up the mountain. This is the energy we want to bring to our long-term goals.
What gets the sea goat up the mountain? What fuels persistence through the long slog?
Clarity is one of the big pieces. Let’s look at 5 areas in which you need clarity in order to fuel your persistence in taking action toward your long-term goals.
5 Forms of Clarity That Fuel Persistence
(1) Clarity on Your Vision
It’s ideal when you can do something for the joy of doing it. But you may not have that for every task you need to do.
Without a clear vision of where you’re going or what you want to achieve, doing the boring and menial tasks becomes harder, and the energy that powers persistence starts to wane.
This doesn’t mean your vision can’t change along the way. Indeed, it often does change. But without a compelling vision of where you’re going, it’s much more difficult to get out the door.
(2) Clarity on Your Tasks and Techniques
Think of the tasks and techniques as the path you’re taking up the mountain.
In the context of weightlifting, the tasks and techniques include accessory drills, rehab exercises, diet, and rest.
When you’re clear on what you need to do and you know how to do it, it’s easier to show up and get it done.
You put one foot in front of the other and walk the path.
On the other hand, if you’re unclear on the path you’re taking or how to navigate it, doubt creeps in. Suddenly, you’re wondering if you’re taking the right path. You start looking for better roads and easier routes.
You’re researching new accessory drills and new options for how to train.
The energy you spend wondering if you’re on the right path or researching alternate routes drains the energy available for persistence on the path you’re currently taking.
(3) Clarity on How the Tasks Fit the Bigger Picture
If you don’t see how the path you’re taking will lead you to the top of the mountain, it will be hard to sustain persistence.
If you don’t understand how the exercises you’re doing will help you improve your big lifts, you won’t do them.
Willpower is a limited resource; we can’t rely on it to fuel persistence.
On the other hand, when you have clarity on how your actions fit into the bigger picture, as well as trust that the path leads to your desired destination, helps sustain persistence without depleting willpower.
(4) Clarity on Your Motivation
Motivation fuels persistence.
But it’s important to get clear on your motivation.
Why is reaching this particular mountain peak important to you? What inner needs are driving you up the mountain? What is it you hope to obtain by reaching this mountain peak?
It’s crucial to get clear on whether you’re being driven by your own desires or by the desires and expectations of others — whether those others are your family, your social conditioning, or cultural norms.
Persistence is unsustainable when you’re being driven by “shoulds” or expectations that are not really yours.
Everyone is motivated by different factors. Working with a good coach can help you get clear on what is actually motivating you.
(5) Clarity on Your Values
Persistence is impossible when your vision, actions, and motivation are not aligned with your values.
If your destination and your path are not aligned with your values, you’ll get tempted off the path repeatedly. You’ll end up drifting far afield.
The TL;DR
When you’re clear on what you want, why you want it, on the path to take, and the technique to travel it, and when these are all aligned with your values, it’s easy to be persistent without depleting willpower.
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