Title: The Power of Intellectual Perseverance
According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 20 percent of
young people who begin their higher education at a two-year institution
graduate within three years. There is a similar pattern in four-year
institutions, where about 4 in 10 students receive a degree within six years (Mui
& Khimm, 2012). A study at Bowling Green showed divorce rates among couples
over 50 have doubled in the last 20 years. In 1990, fewer than one in 10 people
who divorced were 50 or older. In 2009, that figure was one in four (Clary
& Jones, 2012). Lastly, according to
University
of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology, only
46% of people who make New Year’s resolutions continue their commitment after six
months.
Simple facts? Or, signs of a deeper issue? Personally, I believe they
speak of a much more insidious nature within our thinking. It is a mentality of
giving up, checking out, or calling it quits. Whether it’s young adults giving
up on education or older couples giving up on their marriage, when we default
on our responsibilities, commitments, and decisions, everyone suffers.
Sally quits college after her second semester because she needs to
“find herself.” George walks out on his wife after twenty-five years of
marriage because his secretary was impressed with his Audi and corner office.
And year after year, around June, thousands of New Year’s resolutions fade-away
as the summer barbecues get underway.
These three examples are often associated with one’s willpower,
commitment, and character. While that is true, I believe they also pertain to
one’s intellectual perseverance. Quitting college, leaving a spouse, or canning
a resolution is also about our minds and intellect. They are not merely a result
of immaturity, selfishness, and laziness. Before you quit—no, before you even
begin—you must prepare your mind for the journey that lies ahead: Preparation is
key for intellectual perseverance.
What is intellectual perseverance? It’s more than simply longer
thinking and aggressive reasoning. According to the Critical Thinking Community
(1996) intellectual perseverance is “Having a consciousness of the need to use
intellectual insights and truths in spite of the difficulties, obstacles, and
frustrations. It’s a firm adherence to rational principles despite the
irrational opposition of others. And, it is a sense of the need to struggle
with confusion and unsettled questions over an extended period of time to
achieve deeper understanding or insight.”
In other words, it’s when one knows the value of deep thought in
the midst of present challenges. It’s standing for what you believe in no
matter the cost. And lastly, it’s the will to keep going in the face of
uncertainty; when there are more questions than answers.
For example, every morning, like millions of others, I spend time
in front of the mirror before I leave the house and go to work. I can’t speak
for everyone, but for me, “mirror time” is also decision time. As I contemplate
the day’s appointments, meetings, deadlines, husband and fathering responsibilities,
church duties, and all the other demands tugging at my schedule, I remember my
college coursework. From reading twenty pages, writing 500 words, preparing for
future assignments, and answering posts, it can start to feel a bit overwhelming.
To be honest, there are times I think, “Why college? Why again? Really? You’re
almost fifty for crying out loud! Isn’t there something better you can do with
your time?”
That’s where intellectual perseverance is tested. This is the time
when our commitments are made or fade. When I decide to dive deeper into my reasons
for taking classes, I activate the strength of perseverance and character.
Isn’t that what leadership is all about? The list of leaders available in a
simple Google search will speak of perseverance in the face of difficulty.
Earlier this week, the New York Yankees were eliminated from the American
League Championship Series. The power of perseverance made me think of Yankee
legend, Babe Ruth. According to Harry K. Jones at Achieve Max, Mr. Babe Ruth,
the man synonymous with baseball folklore, apparently knew a thing or two about
perseverance. While Babe Ruth is remembered as the “Home Run King” he was also
the “Strike-Out Champion.” Ruth failed at bat 1,330 times—more than any other
player in the major leagues at that time (Jones, 2001).
Every time Ruth made the long walk following a strike out from
home plate back to the dugout, he had a decision to make. Quit or keep going?
Ruth made a minimum of 1,330 decisions to go forward. What if he would have
quit after one, ten, a hundred, or a thousand strike outs?
Part of intellectual perseverance is “knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing.” As leaders, we must be the voice of reason,
truth, and encouragement for our teammates, coworkers, family, and friends. But
remember, in order to do that, we must be pressing forward as well. What about
you? Are you moving forward?
Steve
References:
Clary, G. & Jones, A. (2012). Baby Boomer Divorce Rates Double. Retrieved
from
http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/24/living/baby-boomer-divorce/index.html.
Critical Thinking Community, The.
(1996). Valuable Intellectual Traits.
Retrieved from
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528.
Jones, H.K. (2001). When the Going Gets Tough. Achieve Max,
Inc. Retrieved from
www.achievemax.com/newsletter/01issue/motivational-article.htm.
Mui, Y. & Khimm, S. (2012). College dropouts have debt but no degree.
Retrieved from
but-no-degree/2012/05/28/gJQAnUPqwU_story.html.
resolutions-statistics/.
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