Finishing things that matter to us is often easier said than done! As a creative, there are times when you find yourself feeling challenged to stay engaged with your projects and to persevere without giving up.

Most often, in order to complete our creative projects, we need to practice the power of perseverance and ‘hang tough’ until the end. Yes, because this is a mindset issue, then ultimately the solution is actually under our control. What, then, is the thinking needed to develop perseverance when our negative mindset leads to unfinished creations?

It is probable that your lack of perseverance is connected to negative self-talk that causes doubt in what you are creating or desiring to complete.

Maybe you’re not persistent because you are afraid of what others might think. Other times, things are simply difficult and it becomes hard to keep moving forward through the challenge.

In fact, the more you actually go for your goals as a creative, the greater the struggle with being persistent in your journey towards completion. This is because a lack of persistence is most often fear-based, and to keep pushing ourselves forward can lead to anxiety and stress.

The question is: “Do you persevere when times get tough or when you are under pressure to complete your work?”

Jonathan and Perseverance

A new coaching client, whom I will call Jonathan, came to me while writing the final chapters of his book on dealing with work stress. He found himself ‘stuck’ completing his book and could not understand why. He had become discouraged as he found his everyday writing slowing down as he moved away from his commitment to complete his book.

I suggested to Jonathan that his excuses and rationalizations were preventing him from completing his work and were masking the real underlying struggle he was experiencing.

Together we uncovered that the obstacle to completing his book was based on his fear of what others might say about his book. Jonathan realized that his self-doubt had been screaming (or sometimes quietly suggesting) that he was not enough to become a successful writer, i.e., Imposter Syndrome.

Words such as, “Who do I think I am to be writing this book, will anyone really buy it?” came to the surface as we gently stripped away the subconscious excuses that were the basis for his lack of perseverance.

Does this sound familiar to you?

In our coaching work together, I helped Jonathan develop a mindset for creating perseverance, where he was able to say, “Yes” I have all of the strength, talent, and ideas to keep moving forward – now it’s time to remove my negative mindset and finish the book.” Perseverance became a key part of his commitment to his writing goals, not on a one-time basis, but rather daily, hourly and continually.

Perseverance in his creative life was not achieved through hoping, wishing or just talking about it, but through persistent effort, action, and consistent commitment to his passion and goals on a continuous basis.

Jonathan was letting fear or the desire to get it just right keep him from starting. Think about what you would accomplish if you practiced persistence and stopped aiming for perfection, and instead committed to doing something consistently, even if it isn’t perfect or exactly the way you believe it should be.

The main reason creatives do not stay persistent and give up too soon is the fear that they may fail or be rejected.

How often do we wish for what we want, or talk about it, rather than go out and get it?

Make an intentional choice to commit yourself to that which you desire through action and perseverance. Remember that talk is cheap and ACTION is king!

Of course, no one likes rejection, yet, as we know, “Yes” lives in the land of “No”. The more “No’s”, or obstacles, you experience, the more likely that you are asking for what you want, trying new ideas and stretching yourself through risking new ways of creating.

The “What if’s” in our thinking, that lead to our looking ahead in anxious anticipation, will also kill off any chance of experiencing the present moment, especially during times of taking the risk of working towards completion with persistence.

Until we are willing to say “So What! My creative dreams matter to me” and keep pursuing the thing that you desire until completion; your lack of perseverance will derail you.

So often we miss what is right in front of us by nervously looking ahead in fear. Learning to say “So what!” in perseverance as you step out of fear and take whatever is the next action step will take you closer to achieving your goals.

A commitment to focus on and work towards achieving the goals that truly matter to you is not a straight line – there will be ups and downs, successes and limitations throughout your creative journey.

The world needs you to hang in there, to not give up, to persevere with your amazing book, piece of art or potential world-changing idea.

I encourage you TODAY to make a choice to commit yourself to completing your work through action, hard work, and most importantly, perseverance.