Counselor's Corner: How to Develop Determination

A few years ago, I had a desire to start running, even though I had never run a day in my life. I set my mind in the very beginning that I would learn how to run properly and even enjoy running. When I first started running over 3 years ago, I was a pretty terrible runner; I felt like I was out of breath the entire time I ran and I experienced painful leg, calf, shin and knee pain. I also did not enjoy getting up early to run, and felt I would never be able to conqueror that 3-mile bridge I so desperately wanted to run over. But I was determined to not only get over the top of the steep bridge I was running on but be able to run back over the bride. It took several months of a lot of discipline and hard work, but I finally made it over that bridge and back!

So, why am I sharing with you my experience about running? To let you know it was only my determination to be a successful runner that caused me to be one. I cannot tell you how many times I almost gave up in the beginning, it was hard, I was tired and I was in pain. I felt I had to accomplish this goal in my life to tell myself I can do what I set my mind to do since I had experienced so many other failures in my life. Achieving the goal of running helped me to gain the confidence to do other things in my life as well.

 

You can do it! Don't give up!

How does one learn to develop determination then?

1.     You must have a goal in mind that you want to achieve. Visualize yourself achieving that goal.

2.     Set your mind in the beginning, that you will not quit or give up when it gets difficult or when you don’t see any desired results yet.

3.     Learn to persevere. When it gets tough, don’t look for a way out but move around the obstacle that stands in your way.

4.     Get rid of all self-defeating and negative self-talk. If you tell yourself, “I’ll never be able to do that,” then guess what? You probably won’t. Replace those negative thoughts with faith-filled statements.

5.     Develop discipline in all areas of your life. Learn to delay gratification and reward yourself when you do.

6.     Control your stress. When you are stressed your willpower is diminished and as a result you won’t be able to perform effectively.

7.     Learn from your past mistakes but don’t stay there. Use your past as a learning tool of what worked and what may not have worked. Don’t let the past define your future. Just because you could not do something 5 years ago, does not mean you won’t be able to accomplish that same thing now.

8.     When you fall, have a bad day, make a mistake, you get back in the race and don’t wallow over what went wrong.

9.     Surround yourself with people who are determined. Being around whiners, complainers and excuse makers can deplete your energy that you need to propel yourself forward.

10.  See setbacks and challenges as obstacles to overcome, not allowing them to defeat you.

Set your goal and then set your mind to what you want to achieve. Believe that you can, push past the initial resistance from yourself and maybe others, and keep going even when it seems there has not been any real change.

Respond: What do you want to be determined about? Eating healthier, exercising, writing a book, spending more time with God, or enjoying your life again.