A Pondering on Perseverance

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​​"You cannot fail unless you quit."
— Abraham Lincoln

Photo by Andreas Strandman on Unsplash

​[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]

New Path Productivity®, LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: A Pondering on Perseverance

There is a quiet confidence in this quote from Abraham Lincoln: "You cannot fail unless you quit." No bravado. No urgency. Just the simple, steadfast truth that continuing, however slowly, is enough. That, as long as we don't quit on ourselves, we haven't failed.
 
Society more often celebrates speed, constant hustle, and immediate results. Lincoln's words feel like a soft rebellion. They invite us to redefine what success means. To see perseverance not as relentless forward motion, but as devotion. Not as perfection, but as returning again and again to what matters most. 

Let me clarify, however, that quitting and letting go are not the same.
 
Perseverance does not mean staying in a toxic job, relationship, or role that drains your soul. Choosing to walk away from something that is harming you—emotionally, physically, or spiritually—is not failure; it is often a profound act of perseverance. You're persevering in your commitment to your well-being, to truth, to the life you're meant to live.
 
Quitting, in the way Lincoln uses the word, is more about abandoning your inner compass. It's about giving up on your path out of fear, fatigue, or false beliefs that you don't have what it takes. That's very different from walking away from what's not aligned, so you can redirect and move toward what is.
 
When we hold onto this distinction, Lincoln's quote becomes less about grinding it out and more about staying connected to self, to purpose, to something larger.
 
People often think of perseverance as hustle, grit, or a never-ending to-do list. But I see it differently. Perseverance isn't about speed. It's about direction. It's about choosing, again and again, to orient yourself toward what's true for you.
 
That may mean walking slowly. It may mean resting, regrouping, or even re-routing. But if you're still listening inward, willing to show up in some way, you are persevering.
 
I love the image of someone walking through a foggy forest. They are not running or charging; they are just continuing. They may pause to catch their breath, they may take a wrong turn, and must re-route. But they keep moving. They don't abandon the path entirely. They trust that something lies ahead, even if they can't see it.
 
That's the kind of perseverance Lincoln lived, and it's the kind many of us practice in small, brave ways every day. Sometimes perseverance looks like forward motion. At other times, it's simply choosing not to give up today.
 
I recently had the opportunity to discuss this topic on the PEP Talk, Productive Environment Podcast. In the episode titled "The Power of Perseverance: How to Succeed When You Want to Quit," I shared some of my own experiences on what it takes to keep going when you feel like giving up.
 
If you're feeling weary or wondering whether your efforts are getting you anywhere, here are a few ways to reconnect with the kind of perseverance Lincoln was talking about:
 
Revisit Your "Why"
Think about, or better yet, write down, why you started this path. What matters most to you right now? Let that guide you more than outcomes.
 
Choose One Tiny Next Step
Don't focus on the whole staircase—just the next step. What's one small action you could take today that feels nourishing or aligned?
 
Rest Without Guilt
Resting is not quitting. Rest is part of your strength-building process. Let stillness restore you.
 
Reflect on Evidence of Progress
Journaling or talking it through with someone can help reveal how far you've come. Growth often hides in plain sight.
 
Speak Kindly to Yourself
Perseverance thrives on compassion, not criticism. Talk to yourself the way you would encourage a friend who consistently shows up.
 
If you're still in the game, still thinking, feeling, trying, and adjusting, then by Lincoln's measure, you have not failed. And you cannot.
 
Take your time. Move gently. Let the path reveal itself before you. You don't need to hurry. Stay aligned with what matters to you. That, more than anything, is the true heart of perseverance.