“The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the prompting of a brave, determined spirit.”

Mark Twain 

That is, actively enduring the process of fully living within a commitment. 

Enduring.

An active and trusting pursuit  of  something that is true, necessary and ultimately – permanent. Enduring is and can never be spur of the moment.  Enduring is making a complete, all in  investment without any guarantee of the outcome.    

This takes industry in that you need to work at things. Always and in all ways. Not just with your limbs – but with your mind, your spirit and your soul. It takes application in that you need to use, employ and share  the gifts you have been given to the fullest extent. Not in fits and starts – but again – always and in all ways. 

As Mr. Twain asserts, it takes a brave and determined spirit to venture forth in this manner. It is never for the faint of heart. There can be no timidity when it comes to perseverance and seeing all things through. For that is when things evolve to  become endurance. 

You may consider it a miracle when the destination is finally within sight and your  grasp. 

But it was always that you that had the power to get there, all along.  

Endurance seems to be matched to the physical side of things, centered to what is within your core.  From a strength perspective. 

And yet,  endurance  is truly all about what you possess from within that enables you to elevate yourself. 

And become all you were meant to be.

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” 

— John Lubbock 

It could be said that an optimist sees the opportunity and the pessimist only the adversity. 

Mindset ? Attitude? Perhaps, to some extent. 

But it still and always will boil down to the choices one makes. 

A different take on “what you see is what you get”. You can choose to see the challenges that lay before you through one set of eyes. Seeing only work. Time. Anxiety. Discomfort. Things that have to be overcome. 

Or you can choose to see them as opportunities for effort. Commitment. Faith. Perseverance. Resources for the future. The valuable qualities you can obtain, practice and then work to perfect. 

It will always come down to vision. 

You can only look for – what you choose to see. 

“You cannot consistently perform in a manner which is inconsistent with the way you see yourself.” 

― Zig Ziglar 

Close your eyes and visualize your individual performance this week. Picture everything about each  day;  as it unfolded, your role in it, how you “saw” yourself perform. 

Then picture the outcome. 

Make exercising this kind of vision intentional. A practice that is meant to create “deja vu”.   Placing yourself vividly within the event even before it all  played out. 

By envisioning your future performance, you  establish an indelible image; a benchmark of sorts. 

By creating that pre-event expectation level and performance, you will help yourself stay “on script”. The reality of your effort and execution will rise to the level of that vision you hold of yourself. 

What you picture for yourself affirms who “you” are now – and – foretells what you can choose to become. You can control the clarity and the image. And “how you see yourself” will touch every aspect of your life. 

You are truly the person you choose to “see”. 

The one that ultimately has to perform, achieve and succeed within the vision you created.

So you can truly see yourself.

“I know of no such unquestionable badge and ensign of a sovereign mind as that of tenacity of purpose…”

  – Ralph Waldo Emerson 

You will confront adversity.   

At the moment, It may seem a substantial mass. And without exercising your due diligence, discernment and discipline, perceptions of this moment could become distorted. 

Leadership is the lens through which these times must be viewed. And it is first and foremost, a choice. An instrument wholly guided from within. Sovereign to each and every one of you. Reflected by your tenacity of purpose. 

So never grant rationalization the responsibility to determine the outcome of any situation. 

Do not cede the treasured asset of risk for “status quo.” 

Nor forsake an opportunity for excellence in exchange for a pedestrian existence. 

Bold actions and big pictures demand committed, consistent effort. And dreams are meant to be hard and take too damn long. All are a part of this test. 

To see if the mass of a moment will intimidate you into inertia. 

But you can always choose to be an irresistible force, and move the immovable. Win the moment. Seize the day. 

Uphold your sworn and sovereign duty. 

With a tenacity of purpose.

“Self-discipline is a form of freedom. Freedom from laziness and lethargy, freedom from the expectations and demands of others, freedom from weakness and fear and doubt . “

– H.A. Dorfman 

Too often, we tend to view self discipline as a control measure.

As a means of reining in growth, opportunity and ultimately – freedom.  

But that cannot be further from the truth. 

Self discipline consists entirely of achieving self mastery. Embracing a tack towards intention.  To do the right thing no matter the circumstance. A trait gained when you refuse to give in.

Whether to doubt, fear, the unknown,  just plain fatigue, self pity or having an off day. 

Self discipline is the catalyst of a life well lived. Energizing the ability to stay on task and see things all the way through. 

With the utmost  intention. 

So that you can ultimately achieve,  freedom.