Persistence - in breaking down you own resistance

By John Sproson

Tenacity is usually defined as “the refusal to give up, specifically when confronted with opposition”.

There are are numerous tips and techniques for bringing about change and becoming more confident as a result. We can only make progress by giving up old habits in favour of the new ones; by changing old beliefs. It demands a different kind of persistence.

The resistance we deal with here originates from inside.

We can be our own worst enemy.

We become expert at finding ‘evidence’ to support our current beliefs and talking ourselves into keeping them. Conversations like “I knew that would happen,’ ‘It’s always the same”. And worst of all, “‘I’m never any good at doing that kind of thing.’ So we form a comfort zone that puts a limit on our abilities.

We have to choose knowingly to set ourselves brand new values and persevere with ourselves in implementing them.

- Write down a belief you've got that prevents you performing at your very best ("I can’t enter a room filled with strangers.", as an example).
- Write down the self-talk that fits this perception (“I am powerless at this.”).
- Summarize the comfort zone this puts you in (“Meeting total strangers fills me with anxiety and so I do not incorporate it within my set of abilities.”).
- Express the exact opposite of your constraining thinking (“I look forward to strolling into a space packed with total strangers and really feel genuinely positive about doing so.”).
- Write down the fresh and constructive self-talk that matches this thinking (“Walking right into a space filled with total strangers is one thing I really feel confident about.”).
- Identify the brand new and broadened comfort zone this puts you in.
- What is it like obtaining this brand new thinking?
- Imagine yourself whenever you have this new perception ("I see myself strolling right into a space filled with total strangers, being made welcome and speaking confidently.").
- As an individual with this new found thinking, take a stroll and behave as if you're experiencing this new understanding; become your brand new thinking.

Now persevere until eventually your brand new thinking develops into your own “real belief”.

About the Author:

John Sproson works as a business coach and mentor to build self-confidence in professional business people and in organisational teams. He writes extensively online and blogs on how to build self confidence and uses a solution focussed approach.