Endurance

I knew it would be a tough week and I'd have to do difficult, complicated and unfamiliar things - that they would push me over the edge of comfort and into discomfort...but I leaned into it as is my way and days later...it's still difficult, complicated and unfamiliar, but I'm still standing!

We've all had to do difficult things, have difficult conversations, make decisions that challenged us, and do tasks that brought discomfort and we do them well or not, and gain returns commensurate to the efforts we put in, the persistence we show; do the right thing and the right things will happen, right? That's the theory anyway.

That's been my focus this week, doing the right things, and as each challenge presented itself I've applied my skills to moving it forward with the ultimate goal the destination. I've used various attributes to help me along, not least of which is endurance...the ability to accept and move through difficult or unpleasant situations with unswerving focus.

It sounds exciting I guess, but sitting here now all I feel is worn out, a little broken, somewhat abused and...I have to do it all again tomorrow and the next day and...You get the idea.

There's a quote by Thomas Carlyle that calls endurance, concentrated patience and I believe there's a lot of truth in that.

Over dinner I've been thinking about the last little bit of time, what I've done, why and how, and feel pretty happy with how things have rolled out.

There's been times when patience eluded me, times in which things weren't moving quickly enough for my liking and I've been hard on myself for that but good things take time and that's where patience steps in; it's the patience to take the required steps, to follow processes and procedures and to accept that things may not move forward as quickly as we may like...and having patience with oneself - understanding that one must walk before one runs and that diligently and patiently applying the effort, attitudes and actions to the task will eventually see it come to fruition. We, (I mean me too) have to be a little kind on ourselves - not lower expectations - just understand that we may not always meet our own high standards and that's ok.

I don't know how you feel, but when I'm focused on a task and the elements required to move it to resolution I feel energised during, but drained afterwards. It's like I get a shot of adrenalin when in the moment and then after I need to recharge so I can step up again the next day and the next. Do you feel that way? Are you able to push through, to endure difficult and uncomfortable moments when pursuing a goal? Feel free to tell me about it below.