Beckie and I make regular trips to Dallas in order to visit our family, who are scattered throughout the DFW Metroplex. We have been burning up the road between Austin and Dallas since 1976, despite such a challenging drive. The one major lesson we have learned is to always remain flexible with our plans in order to persevere and nurture the needs of others. We delayed our trip to the mountains in order to spend more time with the family, which turned out to be the right decision.
The word perseverance is defined as persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. To me, the ability to persevere means seeing the big picture before taking action. Going up to thirty-thousand feet and looking down on my life is the divine function of the Mind’s Eye Chakra. As I sit and enjoy the mountains of New Mexico in a moment of reflection, my body is talking about the cost of perseverance. Those little aches and pains usually follow a day of hard work cleaning the creek, moving some rocks, scrubbing the house, and repairing the fence. I have also noticed a deep satisfaction that comes with perseverance. It’s time for a whisper from spirit on the word of the day:
The human quality to persevere is connected to core values, integrity of spirit, and the maturity of key virtues. The energy of survival as a species is ingrained in the collective consciousness and etched in the human psyche. Patience, courage, self-awareness, passion, and determination must be nurtured in order for us to persevere. The most rewarding achievements in life do not come quickly or easily. Perseverance leads to fulfillment with the process and the journey instead of the outcome.
Humans possess a reward molecule that reinforces behavior. Molecules such as dopamine are released during physical activity. Simply moving the body can build the architecture of spirit that leads to a greater ability to persevere. Thoughts, intentions, and actions open gateways in the Mind’s Eye that allow a person to ‘see’ the benefits of accomplishment and completion. Laziness leads to shame, which is just one example of a lower vibrational energy. Another is fear or resistance of the feelings that may arise from the actions. Those who seem unable to follow through on their goals, dreams, or desires experience another form of a payoff. Each person must examine their beliefs in order to discover the motivation or payoff behind procrastination.
Exercise is self-love. Like any habit, it takes a consistent effort to change a way of being in the world. Persevering with exercise changes the belief system over time. Thoughts can shift from viewing exercise in a negative light to seeing the activity as enjoyable and beneficial. The daily achievement felt with exercise is supported by the release of neuro-chemicals in the brain, which is motivation expressed through the bioenergetic field. Pleasure will always overcome willpower. Perseverance leads to the pleasure created by fulfillment and success. Break up large obstacles into smaller tasks. Do small things and acknowledge your accomplishment. Find steady purpose in everything you do. Create deadlines and expect more from yourself. Notice your feelings when completing a task. Love yourself first as a way to cultivate self-awareness of all the emotions that accompany perseverance.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.”
― Winston S. Churchill
