There’s no news to the idea that persistence helps with any task (including staying healthy). But, the healthy do something to find persistent that the unhealthy usually do not.
Asking someone to remain persistent by continuing in the face of failure is like asking someone to gain higher altitudes by traveling up. There’s no helpful instruction in steps that only redefine the goal.
But, success does require staying with the most important task at the exclusion of all else and in the face of failure. Because no one approaches perfection, everyone must keep going or quit in the face of failure.
Here’s the obscure part–here’s the key to persistence that healthy people do that the unhealthy do not. After failure, persistence requires self forgiveness before a true fresh start can begin.
Example: When an obese person eats the wrong thing, the self talk says, "See, you’ll always be overweight." Then days or months may pass before another attempt is made to lower weight. If another attempt is later made, it’s with less faith and with nothing new learned during the time of defeated resolution.
When the healthy person eats the wrong thing, the self talk says, "That’s not like me." Then the healthy person goes back to living a better way. Very soon, another unhealthy deviation will occur, but to the healthy person watches these mistakes orbit through without poisoning resolve to continue even in the face of continuous imperfection.
When I find a person who adds to self forgiveness both self honesty and careful planning, then I usually find a very healthy person (not always. . . always my experience in the emergency room reminds me that tragedy and genetics can take health from anyone at any moment).
The obese resolve to accept obesity because they can’t perform perfectly. The healthy resolve to accept imperfect behavior but never stop looking for blind spots in vision of self behavior and for a better plan. The healthy do more even when much of what’s done turns out wrong.
I never create a perfectly healthy day. Sometimes I even create days that are more unhealthy than healthy. Only by closely and honestly looking at my behavior can I come back to task of keeping this body going as best I can. I can’t come back to task with enthusiasm without self forgiveness. Self honesty with me never reaches perfection; how can I see my blind spots since by definition something about my psyche or ability to see hides them from me.
But, self-honesty becomes empowered by simple records. Blind spots shrink. Then, u Unhealthy behavior cowers to the person who attacks repeatedly with the energy of the person satisfied to act imperfectly but dissatisfied with the present situation.
__ Exodus Chapters 6 - 11
__ Walk 3 miles _____
__ Eat 5 fruits or vegetables _____
__ Virtue: Order - let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have it’s time.