Do the words life and perseverance go hand in hand? I hadn’t considered this before but when difficult times arise and you have to sit and reflect and figure out how to move forward from a dark place, this is the question that can come up for consideration. Along with the question, how can you have a great life without perseverance?
Life isn’t easy for any of us. While I’ve had many struggles, the past four years have been some of the toughest. From losing my self-esteem, to deciding to end my marriage, to an unexpected and stressful court process, and my decision to move myself and my children nearly 1,000 miles from the only home we’ve ever known; oftentimes I thought I’d set myself up for failure. But, now I realize the power behind perseverance, the ability to keep going through every obstacle life puts in front of us to serve as a distraction.
Frequently, we tell ourselves, “If I can just get to (insert the desired place here), then everything will be alright.” I’ve heard this referred to as, “destination syndrome”. We focus so much on the destination of happiness, we underestimate what may hinder us from reaching that destination. Then, when an obstacle arises we feel blindsided and want to ask the proverbial question of, “Why is this happening to me?”
When the road feels bumpy and life puts those inevitable hurdles in your way, remember that you can persevere. This, more than likely, isn’t your first hurdle and won’t be your last. It’s time to either build or flex those muscles of emotional stamina to make it over the mountain top of what’s standing in your way. For me, part of growing my perseverance, strength, and power was to remember my difficult times; not to relive them, but to recall that I’ve made it through hardships once and I can do it again.
In October of 2019, I decided to get my fifth tattoo, a beautiful script that reads, “Ambitious Beauty”. While all of my tattoos are meaningful to me, this one, in particular, serves as my constant and permanent reminder to never lose my ambition and to always appreciate my inner and outer beauty despite when life decides to throw distractions my way. This tattoo paired with what I call my “Warrior Queen” tattooed on my arm, are my symbols of the strength, solidity, and resilience I have inside of me.
Tattoos aren’t for everyone, but what is for everyone is some sort of reminder of how much toughness is inside of you. Write yourself a note and stick it on your bathroom mirror to read every day. Set a reminder on your phone for a random time of day to remind you that you are strong and you can persevere. Meditate and pray to continue to build your emotional muscles even when you’re not going through a hardship. Then, next time one comes along, you’re equipped to handle the diamond-making pressure. Life will continuously throw complications your way, you can handle them and you will come out better on the other side.
About Carmen Elle
Carmen Elle is an Independent Author, Webinar Director, and Content & Evaluation Editor from Columbus, Ohio. A self-proclaimed book nerd, Carmen holds an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and currently serves as Senior Editor for Sistah’s Place Magazine. Carmen created the eBook and webinar series, Writers With Purpose, to aid her fellow writers in not just dreaming about being successful writers and authors but to make those dreams a reality with quality writing skills. To learn more about Carmen, her new ebook, “Taming Your Inner Hater, Finding the Creative Inspiration to Keep You Writing”, and her writing services and self-guided workshops, visit www.carmenelle.com and for daily writing, inspiration follow her on Instagram @thewritercarmen.elle.