There is a belief that nothing good comes without a little struggle. While no one really wants to have to experience a hard time to reap great rewards, such is often the case. However, some of the most successful people are not those that have had the easiest time. Quite the opposite is true. Those that have been knocked down numerous times but still manage to get up often reap the greatest rewards. Perseverance is the key here as without it many of the successful people you know of would have thrown in the towel some time ago. To help you on your journey when the going gets tough, here are some ways that perseverance is key to having a life that is worth living.

You Don’t Expect Something for Nothing

The one thing that perseverance will teach you is to work hard for what you want. While you are down and out, you may feel a bit upset and even jealous of those that have it easier than you. Don’t. You are learning the valuable lesson of working hard to achieve something of value. Eventually, you will learn, if you haven’t already, that anything worth having requires work. From a promotion at work to spiritual growth and development, it all requires perseverance If you give up before you even get started, you are not likely to achieve much in life. Remember, if it’s worth having, it’s worth working for. 

 READ MORE: Developing Your Willpower

You Value Your Efforts

Perseverance teaches you to value your efforts. With all the successes and failures you encounter as you go through life, you will develop an appreciation for all the hard work that has gotten you to where you are. Each success is a milestone, and each setback is a learning lesson. All experiences are significant. Center yourself through each experience. You will learn that everything that you have done thus far has added to your personal value and self-worth. The fact that you don’t give up and keep trying despite the odds bolsters your self-esteem. 

You Learn to Value Others

Just as you learn to value yourself, you also learn to value others. In a world that values fast results, people can be very harsh with their perceptions of others. If someone is not moving along “fast enough” or achieving “quick enough” in the eyes of others, that person is often made to feel like a failure. For this reason, perseverance can really make you appreciate those people that value you even when it doesn’t seem like you are amounting to much. These people are like precious gems that you don’t mind rewarding once you reach the mountaintop. Cherish those that stick by you when the going gets tough. These people are keepers. 

You Take Nothing At Face Value

Finally, perseverance will teach the importance of not taking anyone or anything at face value. Everything that glitters isn’t gold, and oftentimes people pass over diamonds in the rough. You learn through your own personal experiences that much effort and hard work has gone into who you are. There is much more to who you are then what you appear to be. The world tends to look at successful people and all the benefits that come with the success. Not too often does the world consider the hard work and sacrifice that occurred to become a success. Perseverance teaches you depth. Nothing is ever what it appears to be. 

Overall, perseverance is one of the keys to living a worthwhile life. You will learn that the amount of effort you place into yourself will bring you rewards unparalleled to anything that you can imagine.