Dust Yourself Off and Try Again, and Again, and Again... (Post #54)

"At some point, we’re going to have to take a look in the mirror, dig deep, and begin to ask ourselves the hard questions.  Questions that will (and should) begin to expose what prayerfully, the real problem could be."

​I’ve heard it said that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.  If that’s true (and I’m assured that it is), then I pray you’d allow this next statement to serve as the sugar. 
 
Fact:  it takes great courage and a very resilient spirit to keep trying a thing over and over again.  To look at a task and make a convicted decision that, in spite of a number of failed attempts, you refuse to give up or accept defeat.  J.K. Rowling had a manuscript rejected dozens of times until it was finally accepted by a London publisher.  The title you ask?  Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone.  

Now, while all of that is certainly true, I pray you’ll brace yourself, because what I’m talking about IN THIS POST is something altogether different.  I’m not dealing with the one who has had a number of failed attempts.  I’m talking about the one who has, on a number of occasions, failed to even hardly attempt.  It sounds a little like…

• “That’s it, I’m going to the gym tomorrow.”
• “Okay, so I didn’t go, but I will most definitely go at the top of next week, for 4 days for certain.”
• “So, I made it 1 day out of the 4; however, I’m going to do better next week, promise.”
• “Yeah, so that week wasn’t good, but next week I’m on it.  For sure.”

 
You see, at some point, we’re going to have to realize that this is a bigger problem than we’re admitting.  At some point, we’re going to have to take a look in the mirror, dig deep, and begin to ask ourselves the hard questions.  Questions that will (and should) begin to expose what prayerfully, the real problem could be.  How is it that you’re dusting yourself off, to “try again” for the 362nd time?

• Ask yourself, “what is the true barrier to this task’s completion?”  Are you prepared?  Are you confident in your ability?  Are you serious about the task?  Are you doing this because you want to do it, or because someone else wants it for you?  Is there any unspoken anxiety associated with this task?  Whatever the case, you’ll never break the chain of inconsistency until you deal with the root of the problem.  Do the inner reflective work to uncover the barrier. 
• Ask yourself, “is your heart in this?”  The Bible says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NASB). People typically give 100% of their time, energy, and effort to the things they’re passionate about.  Determine from within, “is this thing important to me?”  If it’s not, then you may have just identified your barrier.
• Ask yourself, “are your current goals realistic or attainable?”  Nothing will make a person tap out quite like hopelessness.  If your goal is to move 1,000 pounds of rocks, in 15 minutes, all by yourself, with your bare hands, in the pouring rain, at 4 below freezing, such a task will remain deferred, and deferred, and deferred, and… Until you realize, that the problem isn’t you, your expectations, or your work ethic.  Rather, the issue is your task – only God can make the impossible, possible.
• Ask yourself, “am I seeing this same level of inconsistency in other task or just this one?”  I hate to go here, but it has to apply to someone.  Maybe, just maybe, you’re not seeing your desired results because of, well… you.  Maybe you’re unreliable, lazy, ineffectual, or sadly all three.  It’s one thing to suffer inconsistency in a specified area of work.  However, it’s a far different thing to see this failing in all of your other tasks.  In these circumstances, the task is rarely the problem.  Who’s the problem?  The problem could be reading, right now.   
• Ask yourself, “do you have any current measures of accountability in place?”  Who’s that person or group of people who hold your feet to the fire?  Is it your spouse?  Your parents?  Your boyfriend / girlfriend?  Your church leaders?  Your best friend?  Whoever it is, just understand that everybody needs somebody.  Consistent failings may require companionship.  Give the people you trust a chance to challenge you towards better.  If you’re humble, God can use them to improve you.

 
Your thoughts?  If you were adding to this post, what would you include?  What do you think we’ve missed?  Let us know in the comments. 
 
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​Imperfectly,

Kevin D. Jones, Sr. 

Author and Publisher of Perfectly Imperfect Perfectionist
(@kevindjonessr)
(@imperfection360)