How to remain diligent under pressure
Set Goals and Objectives in place
In this series of lessons on diligence we want to focus on how to remain a diligent person under pressure. First of all there needs to be a goal set in place along with objectives to meet that goal. This goal should not just be mental assent, but written down so one can tangibly refer to them when needed. Habakkuk 2:4 declares to write the vision and make it plain that he may run that reads it. A written goal keeps one remaining in the right direction with clarity about what is being pursued. The objectives around the goal should be steps taken to lead to the goal. For example if the written goal is weight loss, then the objectives around that goal should contain certain things such as exercise, keeping a daily food intake journal, proper nutrition, etc. to name a few. These objectives help to keep a person diligent visually and mentally toward reaching the goal of weight loss. Remember diligence is constant careful effort and the careful effort is the objectives used to keep aim toward the goal.
Maximize Strengths and minimize weaknesses
I once heard the story of how a coach was interviewed about the unbelievable skill of his players and how they maintained such high level of play under pressure. The coaches reply was that he did not focus on the weaknesses of his players, but only on how to improve their strengths and during that process, weaknesses begin to fade in the minds of the players. To focus on weaknesses only adds strength to those weaknesses, but focusing on strengths minimizes weaknesses because maximizing strengths over compensates for whatever weaknesses exist. Even the bible says let the weak say I'm strong so that strength becomes the total focus.
Finish what you start
Pressure is designed to cause one to quit and give up what has been started. What has been started should be finished in order to create a mentality other than that of failure. Jesus said to count up the cost to see if you have sufficient to finish and this cost is not only monetary resources, but also inside qualities that create hunger, desire and motivation. Adults even instill in their children the importance of finishing because developing a habit of quitting may make it easy to give up during the hard times. Diligence learns to set small achievable goals so finishing doesn't become complicated. It also creates an environment that will keep one motivated while enduring up under the pressure.
