1. Why People Overcome Obstacles and How
By Brian Patrick Jensen (All Rights Reserved 2012)

2. Introduction to perseverance
Perseverance is…
achieving positive
growth by overcoming
adversity.

3. Introduction to perseverance
Perseverance…
is a process of choices
and actions, not a
personality trait.

4. Introduction to perseverance
Application
Write out a brief description of
the problem, crisis or challenge
you now wish to overcome
“I am newly deaf in a hearing world and I feel
isolated and alone. I just lost my job. I am worried
about supporting my family. My future livelihood
is very uncertain.”

5. 5 things resilient people do
1. Believe growth is a choice
2. Stare down hard reality
3. Find a higher meaning
4. Visualize the extraordinary
5. Take specific action

6. 1.) Believe growth is a choice
We do NOT control
the “External” world
All other people
Time and events
Economic pressures
Medical diagnoses
Weather and seasons
Harm and tragedy
Hitting the lottery

7. 1.) Believe growth is a choice
We DO control the
“Internal” self
Reactions to Externals
Decisions, beliefs & values
Plans (not outcomes!)
Self-awareness
Desire, passion & energy
Skills and learning
Behaviors and actions

8. 1.) Believe growth is a choice
We can “Influence”
the External world
It is ineffective to focus on
things you do not control
Focus on the External
DECREASES Influence
Focus on the Internal
INCREASES Influence

9. 1.) Believe growth is a choice
Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

10. 1.) Believe growth is a choice
Application
Write two lists concerning your
current challenge:
I do NOT Control I DO Control
•That I’m deaf now •How I communicate
•I am unemployed •How I do job search
•Job market •Asking for help
•Bias not to hire deaf •My personal integrity
•Technology limits •Learning new skills

11. 2.) Stare down hard reality

12. 2.) Stare down hard reality
The optimism trap
Resilient people keep things real
We are hard-wired unrealistic*
Optimism: Denial in disguise
*People hugely underestimate chances of getting divorced,
losing a job and being diagnosed ill while overestimating
personal achievement, family fortune and life span.
-Time Magazine: The Science of Optimism

13. 2.) Stare down hard reality
Inventory cold hard facts
I lost all hearing; it’s permanent
Miss my children’s voices
Get exponentially less information
I feel isolated; talk to less people
Interpreting visual cues is exhausting
Lip reading seems impossible
Getting a job is far more difficult
Yearn for sounds of music, nature, etc.
Depleting all my money

14. 2.) Stare down hard reality
Grieve with passion
 Holding back is unhealthy
 Sharing pain helps you & others
 Process toward healing
Sadness, anger and depression are sane reactions to great
loss. Grieving is a healthy process with stages that should
be experienced, not denied.
- Coping with Grief and Loss: HelpGuide.org

15. 2.) Stare down hard reality
Ask for specific help
 Admit you need help (Acceptance)
Do not assume they know
 Show exactly what to do
 Never beg, apologize or demand
 Reinforce positive efforts

16. 2.) Stare down hard reality
Application
Inventory all the cold hard facts of
your situation. Select 1 item and
describe specifically how another
person can help you with it.
“I can ask my daughters to text or email me a
quick summary of their day, every day. Then I
can keep a running journal of communications
between my kids and their Dad!”

17. 3.) Find a higher meaning

18. 3.) Find a higher meaning
 Nature is more vivid
 Insight into human behavior
 Better comprehension via captions
 Keener of others’ true feelings
 New friends who understand
 Inspired by others’ feedback
 Better at sharing my heart
 Closer to my children

19. 3.) Find a higher meaning
Application
Write your own list of lessons
learned or desirable outcomes that
actually occurred as a result of your
difficulty.
Caution: List only firm convictions, facts or actual
events. This is not a wish list or ambiguous hope
that something good will come. It must be real.

20. 4.) Visualize the extraordinary
See higher purpose to current
struggles via a concrete vision:
 Visualization techniques (as in athletes)
 Imagine specifically “Dreams Awake”
 Set concrete goals for future

21. 4.) Visualize the extraordinary

22. 4.) Visualize the extraordinary
Application
Imagine a future of happiness and
accomplishment beyond* your
current struggles. Be very specific
and write it down. Dream big!
*Note: “Beyond” does not mean “without” if your current
problem is permanent. I didn’t visualize to be cured of my
deafness; rather to use my hearing loss to inspire others
that they can overcome their struggles too.

23. 5.) Take Specific action
 Memorized Sarah’s speech
 Wrote daughters a poem
 Started new blog
 Took sign language classes
 Contacted HLAA / ALDA
 Dusted off telescope
 Started networking
 Obtained great job references
 Created this presentation!

24. 5.) Take specific action
Application
Write your own list of actions that
you can do right now to either deal
with your problem or move toward
your future vision. Then do it!
Add to your list to complete the Application
Exercises from this training within a week!

25. 5 things resilient people do
1. Believe growth is a choice
2. Stare down hard reality
3. Find a higher meaning
4. Visualize the extraordinary
5. Take specific action

26. Be inspired every day!

27. Perseverance: Why People Overcome Obstacles and How
By Brian Patrick Jensen (All Rights Reserved 2012)