How to Persevere with Kindness

This week, as I sat down to write the Summer of Strengths newsletter, I found myself pulled between two powerful strengths: kindness and perseverance. Life has been especially full lately, and I felt the familiar tug-of-war between pushing through to get things done and giving myself permission to slow down and show myself some compassion.

Writing the newsletter became a real-life lesson in how these strengths can sometimes feel at odds—but with a little awareness, they can actually work beautifully together.

The “Kindness” Strength: Lifting Yourself Up

Kindness is about caring for others—and for yourself. It means offering support, encouragement, and patience, not out of obligation but from a genuine desire to help. Kindness also means treating yourself with the same patience and gentleness you’d offer a good friend, especially when life gets hectic or you fall short of your own expectations.

Kindness in Action: Self-Kindness on a Busy Week

I’ll be honest: finding time to write my newsletter the past few weeks has been a real challenge. Between moving my college kids back home and taking some much-needed vacation time, my days have been full, my routines upended, and my to-do list never-ending.

In the past, I might have criticized myself for not being more productive or for struggling to keep up. But this time, I chose self-kindness. I seriously considered skipping the newsletter this week. However, this week while I was walking my dog, I was inspired to share my struggle. I reminded myself that it’s okay to adjust my expectations, to rest when I’m tired, and to celebrate the small wins.

By treating myself with the same compassion I’d offer a friend, I let go of perfection and found ways to make the writing easier & more enjoyable. Suddenly, I felt excited to create a newsletter this week! My self-kindness fueled my perseverance.

5 Ways to Practice Kindness (Including Self-Kindness)

1. Speak to yourself as you would to a good friend.
2. Give yourself permission to rest or take breaks—guilt-free!
3. Offer a helping hand to someone who could use it.
4. Write a note of encouragement (to yourself or someone else).
5. Celebrate your efforts, not just your accomplishments.

The “Perseverance” Strength: Sticking With It

Perseverance means staying committed to your goals, even when things get tough. It’s not about being perfect, but about showing up consistently and pushing past obstacles. True perseverance is honoring your promises to yourself and finding meaning in the act of following through.

Perseverance in Action: Showing Up Every Week

Since last December, I’ve committed to writing my weekly newsletter—busy or bored, inspired or not. There was only one week I missed, and that was when I was sick and truly needed to rest. Each week, no matter what else was going on, I sat down to write, reflect, and connect with you.

Some weeks, the words flowed easily; other times, I had to dig deep, remind myself why I started and ask for support from the people in my life. One helpful tip from a friend- Imagine the readers that you are helping while writing. This took the focus off of me and moved it to others (And I find relationships really motivating.)

This commitment has taught me so much about the power of perseverance. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being consistent. It’s about honoring your promises to yourself and others, and finding meaning in the act of showing up.

5 Ways to Practice Perseverance

1. Set a small, achievable goal and follow through—no matter what.
2. Break big tasks into tiny steps and celebrate each one.
3. Remind yourself why your goal matters to you.
4. Reflect on a time you stuck with something and how it felt.
5. When you hit a snag, pause, regroup, and try again.

This Week’s Strength Challenge

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and tell me:

How will you bring more kindness and perseverance into your week?

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’re interested in a personalized strengths exploration, I’m offering a limited number of discounted strength sessions this summer. Email me at dianna@collierclan.net for details.