Diligence: n. Persistent effort or work
-The Oxford English Dictionary

We live in a disposable culture. We suffer from overconsumption and excessive production of short-lived or disposable items over durable goods that can be repaired. We also have microwaves so our food will be cooked faster, fast food restaurants that we often still think take too long, and it seems like there drugs for almost any symptom or ailment. All of this has amounted to a society that isn’t used to being patient.

Changing your life requires a bit of stick-to-it-ness. You have spent years building up negative thought patterns, creating unhelpful habits, and storing away old emotions rather than processing them. It may take a while to untangle and unwind the ball of yarn. Rome was not un-built in a day.

Diligence, consistent and persistent effort, mindfulness in the moment and awareness that comes from a daily assessment of how you did each day, will all help you in making important changes in your life. It is much easier to act your way into right thinking than think your way into right action, so don’t wait for your mind to change, or to want to do the work. Just do it.

When feeling impatient, I find it helpful to remind myself regularly of who I am, where I have been, and where I am going. It helps keep my perspective and gives me the added oomph that is sometimes needed to stay the course.