Have you ever given a thought to why you do what you do?
Have you explored other options, be it for your career or hobbies or self-improvement?
What takes priority – exploration or persistence?
“To find yourself, think for yourself.” – Socrates
Understanding Exploration
Exploration is seeking out new paths. Trying out new things. Or simply, stepping out of your comfort zone.
It need not be esoteric or you going into a cave.
It’s a process to figure out how to improve your life, your personality, by looking from a fresh perspective.
Exploring allows you to learn new things, acquire new skills and enjoy new experiences.
This by itself is invigorating and infuses creativity and innovation into your fatigued brain.
It’s normal to fall into complacency because its comfortable and known. Soon you find yourself snuggling into the warm embrace of inactivity and monotony.
And that’s the death knell to all progress and growth.
But it’s human not to feel satisfied with what you have. That’s when you may feel stuck or stagnant. Or doubts start creeping into your mind, making you feel unsure about the path ahead.
Exploring will help you in uncovering and discovering new opportunities or solutions.
You’ll want to look for a new job opportunity or to break out of the monotony of your daily grind. Then you’ll have to start working on a new activity tor learn a new skill.
Exploration is good. It provides challenges and stimulation in life.
“It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens. That’s how change occurs.” – Jillian Michaels
Understanding Persistence
But just exploring is wasted if you don’t follow it up with actions. What’s the point of knowing you enjoy playing an instrument or exercising or learning coding if you don’t follow it up with doing it?
If you’ve discovered that going to the gym after work fires you up, then build up a habit of going to the gym regularly after work.
If you’ve discovered learning something new refreshes you, join a class to pursue that interest.
If exploring is one side of the coin, then persistence is the other side.
Persistence is your dedication to stay the course, building up on what exists or what already works.
All it asks of you is consistent work and commitment. One small step each day will add miles to your personal worth.
It’ll lead you to gaining mastery over the skill.
It develops your resilience and consistency and commitment.
If it’s a skill, building it can help you professionally or personally or both.
It’ll help you achieve your long term goals.
“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
Recognising What Your Situation Requires
Before you jump into starting something new, take a moment to think it through.
You’ve to evaluate your situation and figure out what’s required.
Evaluate your present circumstances. Ask yourself if you’re feeling stuck, or making steady progress but feeling something’s missing?
Are the current methods you’re using sufficient or inadequate, or have you exhausted all options?
Are you just bored, feeling uninspired or restless?
Do you want to try something new so you get new ideas?
Do you need to explore new possibilities or just refine the existing ones?
In your excitement to start exploring, are you abandoning your existing strategies too soon? Can persisting on them lead to better results?
Getting a clarity on your thoughts is essential. That’s what will get you the desired results.
“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” – Buddha
Finding the Balance
Striking a perfect balance between exploration and persistence is what will help you move closer to your goal.
Exploring will expand your horizons while persistence will move you towards that horizon.
I began exploring options when I decided to quit my teaching job post COVID. All I knew was that writing was my strength and skill, and I wanted to leverage it.
After a few months online, I gained clarity about what I wanted to focus on. And ever since I have worked diligently on building my skills.
It’s the same for you too, isn’t it?
It’s not an ‘either/or’ situation. It needs both.
You’ve to realise when to pivot and when to dig deeper; when to explore and when to persist.
It’s like trying new marketing techniques (exploring) while refining an already existing one (persistence).
You can explore new career paths while building persistently on your current skill set for growth.
You can explore new hobbies or routines for self-improvement or refine the old ones which bring about changes to your life.
It’s for you to find out how to make it work.
“Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have.” – Doris Mortman
In short
Both exploration and persistence are essential for personal growth. The secret is in finding a balance between the two. That way you can use both to bring about the changes you seek to make your life more meaningful.
It’s very easy to slip into a routine, repeating it day after day. How do you make any progress then? Where is the room for self-improvement and progress?
Try taking a pause and review your current situation.
Before pressing reset or start, decide what do you require – exploration or persistence?
