Starting something new delivers a rush to our brains, and we feel energized. We get a new book with high hopes of reading it every day but don't get beyond the first chapter. We sign up for a class but don't attend it. We make plans for starting a new food plan but never get beyond the first step. We join the gym but never go. The truth of the matter is that many of us rarely finish what we start.
We tell ourselves stories about why we are unable to carry through on a personal development program or a new physical regimen: We don't have enough time; we lack the physical energy to do what is required; we have too many other commitments; and we are overwhelmed by the deluge of emails, texts, and social media posts.
What's more, our society in general does not criticize or castigate us when we don't finish things; indeed, we may be encouraged in this behavior. We leave food on our plates at restaurants as a sign of our self-control. We give up on our marriages and other relationships when they don't match our expectations. We walk out on movies that don't provide the entertainment we want.
Still, we all know individuals who have an intense commitment to what they are doing and seem to be able to sustain this steadfastness even in the face of formidable setbacks. How do they do it?
In her feisty and fascinating paperback Perseverance, Margaret J. Wheatley explores this virtue which in Latin means "one who sees through to the end" and "one who doesn't yield." It's a combination of doggedness and determination. Christina Baldwin, the author of Calling the Circle says perseverance is the antidote to starting but not finishing because it gives us the discipline to stay awake and to battle our inertia. In the Qur'an, we read: "God is with those who persevere." Hindu teacher Sri Chinmoy once stated: "Not to give up under any circumstances should be the motto of our life."
Hazrat Inayat Khan, the great Sufi seer and musician, captured another dimension of this spiritual virtue:
"All the great persons of the world, whatever had been their mission in life, proved their greatness by this one quality: endurance. The enduing personality is like a ship that can stand storms and winds under all conditions, the ship that saves itself and others. Such blessed personalities, showing the strength of God, have been called the saviors of humanity."
Stick-to-it-iveness is another name for the ability to finish things. In her spiffy little book, Addie Johnson explains:
"When we match stick-to-it-iveness with its natural companions, hard work and common sense, there's nothing we can't accomplish. We can all use a little inspiration to help us plant one foot in front of the other, to do what we came into this life to do. Here's the key, for you and to pass on to those you care about: perseverance, resolve, determination, doggedness, tenacity, staying power, steadfastness, dedication, persistence, commitment, fortitude, grit, endurance, resilience, guts, stamina."
Do you need some inspiring examples of this? Addie Johnson holds up the courage and patience of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player in the major leagues; the discipline of Helen Keller, author and world lecturer; the penguin parents who withstand the wind, cold, and storms of Antarctica; the welwitschia mirabilis plant of South West Africa which can live for up to 2,000 years in the middle of the desert; the Civil Rights Movement's day-by-day struggle for justice and equal treatment of all Americans; and the 3,000-mile migration of monarch butterflies.
Practices to Help You Finish Things
1. Set an Intention. No matter how large or small your project, it helps to put it within the context of a spiritual intention. What are your deepest and broadest desires for personal and social transformation? For a new diet or exercise program, your intention might be to "honor my body as a temple of God." Your intention for a new writing project might be "to express my God-given creativity." Your intention for joining a committee or class might be "to do my part to help mend our broken world." Write your intention down or state it publicly on a site like www.Intent.com.
2. Don't Listen to Your Stories. Many of us sabotage our new projects by remembering that we failed before. This is giving the past priority over the present. The truth is you don't know what will happen this time. You only know what is happening today. When you start wondering if and when you will finish, repeat this slogan: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, and today is a gift."
3. Don't Be Attached to a Desired Outcome. Expectations about the result of our project can keep us from finishing it. Perhaps we've tried before and were disappointed with what happened next. Now we find we aren't as motivated as we used to be. Let go of your ideas about what should happen next and just do your best.
4. Break Your Project Down into Little Steps. The best strategy we have learned for overcoming a tendency to procrastinate is to work on your project for ten minutes and then decide whether or not to continue. This is good for any project, actually. As Hindu teacher Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reminds us: "Though the river is vast, a little sip quenches your thirst. Though the earth has so much food, just a small bite satisfies your hunger. All that you need are tiny bits. Accept a tiny bit of everything in life — that will bring you fulfillment."
5. Dedicate Your Work to the Common Good. Similar to an intention, a dedication sets your activities in a larger context. Buddhist teacher Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche explains: "Dedication magnifies the benefits of positive actions and prevents them from being lost." As you finish work on your project each day, acknowledge what you have done and add the wish that it contribute to the happiness of all beings, the health of your community, the well-being of the Earth, and other admirable wishes. Know in your heart that your finishing this particular thing is important and consequential.
