Endurance is derived from endure, which has its ancestry in the French word endurer, meaning “ability to last” or “continued existence”. The French endurer is in itself from the Latin indurare, meaning “harden”, which comes from durus, “hard”. While the word endurance is dated back to the 15th century, endure s traced to the 14th century.
So, what exactly is endurance? Endurance is the ability to keep going through a tough situation involving hardship, stress, adversity or trial. It is the act of working hard without stopping, even in the face of difficult situation or pain. It is the quality or power of being patient.
Endurance is a staying power; the strength to hold on; the resolution to never give in; the tenacity to never give up; the determination to press on; the patience to keep on keeping on; the stamina to stay focused; the fortitude to bear tough times; the persistence to keep going; the tenacity to keep firing; the permanence to keep moving; the durability to always deliver; the perseverance to keep fighting for your dreams; and the continuity to keep pursuing your purpose. Endurance is to bite the bullet, to roll with the punches, to blow the gaff, and to take it on the chin.
Purpose of endurance
Endurance is a very significant principle in life as in sports. In sports, athletes and footballers must show endurance in training and on the field. From marathoners, to Tour de France cyclists, to the soccer stars in the European Champions League, is clearly depicted the importance of endurance to success. We need to be strong in body and even more so in mind to achieve great heights and enviable accomplishments.
Over half of physical training in sport is geared towards endurance. Likewise, over half of what we require to become high achievers are based on our ability to endure, persevere and be patient in our pursuit of glory, success and excellence.
English actor and activist Stephen Fry rightly said, “I used many times to touch my own chest and feel under its asthmatic quiver, the engine of the heart and lungs and blood, and feel amazed at what I sensed was the enormity of power I possessed. Not magical power, but real power. The power simply to go on, the power to endure, that power is enough, but I feel I had also the power to create, to add, to delight, to amaze and to transform.”
Dynamism of endurance
Greatness is endurance for one more moment. It is standing firm when others are sitting down. Endurance goes beyond the ability to bear life’s twists and turns; it has more to do with our ability to turn our challenges to channels of progress. Endurance is a noble virtue of the strong.
Orison F. Whitney says, and I agree, “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God… and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our father and mother in heaven.”
You can achieve anything you set your mind to in this world if you are ready to endure the challenges and setbacks that are part and parcel of the journey to success and happiness without losing your faith and enthusiasm. The world is filled of stories of people who endure setbacks and challenges without losing faith and focus. The story of Job in the holy books is an inspiration to anyone who is going through tough times now that there is light at the end of tunnel if you keep hope alive and never ever give up on God.
In modern times, the story of President Mohammed Buhari is also an inspiration to never ever give up on our dreams despite repeated failures and challenges. After losing 3 presidential elections in a row, President Buhari eventually achieved his dream in 2015, because he endured the tough times, and turn his setback as a set up for a comeback.
Oprah Winfrey was molested as a kid and had to endure great emotional pains at a tender age. Despite her challenges, she was able to become one of the most successful black women in history. If Steve Jobs, Mohammed Buhari and Oprah Winfrey could endure tough times and achieve great success, then you can do same. You can turn your challenges to channels of progress, your difficulties to determination, your trials to triumph;you’re your problems to possibilities, if you endure through the dark moments because after the dark night comes the sunshine.
ACTION PLAN: Stay strong. Never ever give up. Keep believing in yourself. Study successful people who had passed through tough times and yet became successful. Always believe in yourself no matter the circumstances around you.
AFFIRMATION: I endure until I succeed. I am blessed and highly favoured.
