Are you Born With Perserverance?

[ivette_green]

It takes a lot to keep going in Martial Arts, especially when you plan on doing it for the majority of your life time. So I pose this question, are you born with perserverance (in your brain physiology or genetics) or is it something that is taught to you by your parents (or perhaps forced onto you by your enviroment in some cases)? This all goes back to the old personality question, are you yourself because of nature or nuture?

[karate_woman]

I think some of us are more inclined to persevere than others. I also think that some of us will persevere at some tasks and give up easily at others.

I think there is a combination of factors that affects this: life experience, successes, failures, self esteem, family support, risk, and motivation.

[shotochem]

I do believe that perserverance is an inherent trait. Some people just have a greater mental toughness where others give up sooner.

When it comes to goals IMO, is comes down to how badly you want something and what it means to you. This is what motivates us in our MA training. This type of perserverance can be taught and influenced by who and what you are surrounded by. I consider this more of a determination kind of thing.

To perservere in regards to living and surviving and overcoming a dangerous situation I would consider a more primal survival instinct than anything you could be taught.

[SaiFightsMS]

That is a very interesting question. I think everyone is born with basic survival instincts. As to how much perseverance a person developes that would depend on a lot of thier living situation, culture, family structure, and customs and mores of thier culture.

[taiji fajin]

Nature vs. Nurture is wrong. Its Nature and Nurture. Both contribute. The degree is going to vary depending on how overpowering each is, but both will have an effect. Short answer? It depends on each person which it is.

Yes, I know that's not a nice, simple answer, but that's life. People often want to be able to put things into easy categories (and to some degree they can be), but the truth is more often than not things are going to depend on their own situation, and can't just be answered by saying "Nature" or whatever answer.

[ivette_green]

Scientists have discovered that things like intelligence and anger levels are heavily linked with genetics. Some things are nature, some nurture, some both.

[June1]

Hmmm... Put simply, I think that perseverance stems from confidence, which is nurtured in us.

[Sauzin]

I don't think it is perseverance as a personality trait that allows people to stay in martial arts. I think it's more a question of whether you can find joy in it. At least it is for me. If I didn't enjoy it, if I didn't feel the benefit every day I do it, I probably wouldn't. Not to say that every working, repetitious moment has to be a barrel of fun. That is to say there has to be some benefit and joy in it and thankfully I have learned to see and appreciate this. Otherwise I wouldn't have done it this long.

As far as being born with it or bred, I think it is a combination. What and how we appreciate things is both learned and bred.

[ninjanurse]

Not to say that every working, repetitious moment has to be a barrel of fun.

Don't burst my bubble!

[AnonymousOne]

Perseverance is a trait that can be developed.

When you are excited enough about achieving a goal - you will pay what ever price is necessary to achieve it.

But the question is "How much pain will you put up with to get what you want?"

Perseverance is directly related to desire. How badly do you want a certain goal?