Stamina

Persisting in the face of difficulties, obstacles or disappointments is Stamina.

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.

Persevering in the face of challenges and difficulties builds the muscle of emotional stamina. Psychological hardiness is a term often used when talking about stamina, and it is characterized by three primary qualities or attitudes:

• Commitment: having a personal and meaningful commitment to what you are doing in life
• Control: feeling you have the ability to control and influence events in your life
• Challenge: seeing challenges and new experiences as exciting opportunities to learn and develop

A person with stamina is not impervious to setbacks but is strongly resilient in responding to a range of stressful conditions. He or she also tends to manage disappointments better, perform better under stress and remain healthier. Physical energy is an important component of stamina.

Stamina can be learned, and developed by following the tips like these from EQDashboard.com.

If you or someone with whom you work exhibit these behaviors, seeking the advice and tips at EQDashboard.com provides a quick remedy:

• Irrational beliefs that undermine energy and well-being
• Overdoing it; failing to rest and rejuvenate
• Neglecting physical health
• Thinking you should be able to do it all
• Social isolation
• Mental stagnation (lack of stimulating activities can sap motivation and energy) Negative thinking or adhering to a “victim” mentality

Kersey, Cynthia. Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph From People Just Like You. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, 1998.

Marshall, Joseph M. III. Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance. New York: Sterling Ethos, 2009.

Seldman, Marty, and Joshua Seldman. Executive Stamina: How to Optimize Time, Energy, and Productivity to Achieve Peak Performance. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2008.