Perseverance.

Perseverance is not giving up. It is the tenacity required to push through tough times and tough tasks.

We often will put ourselves on a timeline. We expect certain milestones to happen by a certain date. College in 4 years. Promotion after 1 year. Dream job with no obstacles by age 30. And so on and so forth. We all have different timelines for ourselves and not meeting those timelines can lead to negative feelings. See my blog on change for coping mechanisms.

We will all run into obstacles. I often refer to myself as a second timer meaning I have a way of not getting something I want on the first try. Joining my sorority and landing a big client are a couple of examples that come to mind. The disappointment of not getting what I KNEW was mine was overwhelming at times. I have suffered from depression and it rears its ugly head at times. Disappointment is definitely a trigger for me.

What I have learned through my years and experiences is that it is alright to grieve a loss. Grief isn’t just for deceased loved ones. We grieve the loss of relationships and even careers. Give yourself space to acknowledge that you may be grieving. Once I worked through the grief, I was able to take a step back and look at the situation from all perspectives. I look within myself to see what areas I want to grow in. I learn from disappointment. Depending on the situation (like not being selected for something) ask for feedback. Remember to keep what applies and leave what does not.

The road of perseverance also requires flexibility. Rigid processes can lead to frustration and defeat. Your end goal may not look exactly as you envisioned. In my experience it has looked better. Sometimes we may not ever reach a particular goal. I never envisioned myself as a health and wellness coach. I couldn’t picture any other career that wasn’t aligned with the beauty world.

If you read the changes blog post then you know that I moved to a new area and started over in the hair and makeup world. I was in the land of politics and I wanted a piece of the pie. And I got it. In fact I was eating real good (literally and figuratively). When covid happened it was taken from me. There was no way to foresee that happening.

I fell into a dark place. When I began to see through the fog I took inventory on what I truly wanted. I realized my career had been about people. My favorite part of being an artist was the reaction my clients gave after a successful glam session. It was about helping people feel good. I’m taking that same concept and applying it intrinsically versus extrinsically. When I was volunteering with cancer survivors we learned when you look good you feel good. I believe the same applies in reverse. When you feel good you radiate that glow!

So while I didn’t see my journey arriving where I am at I couldn’t be happier. I still have challenges. Those will never disappear. I have the tools now to navigate the speed bumps and the knowledge on when to take a detour.