The Quiet Power of Persistence in Mental Health

Vector illustration of a woman pushing big stone up hill.

Persistence is a quality we would all like to have, but one that we rarely feel like we possess. We hear stories about how others overcame challenges, kept going through hard times and came out stronger, and think, Wow, they’re so resilient. I wish I could be like that. But having that persistence in our own lives, especially when dealing with mental health, can feel impossible. The "just keep going" (or swimming for my Pixar fans) mentality sounds great on paper, but when you’re the one going (or swimming) through it, it can be quite overwhelming.   

The truth is persistence is NOT the infallible, never-give-up attitude you see in movies. It’s not about forcing yourself to push through no matter what or pretending everything’s okay when it isn’t. In real life, persistence is quieter. It’s not about always moving forward or keeping it together all the time. Often, persistence is just about showing up for yourself, even on those hard days.   

When it comes to mental health, persistence can be less than alluring. It’s the daily, often invisible work of taking care of yourself. It could be as simple as taking a short walk or calling a friend, even when you’d rather not. Some days, it might mean going to therapy, even if it feels pointless.  On other days it means trying a new coping skill, like tapping or square breathing, despite feeling silly and not knowing if it will work. Mental health persistence is about choosing to keep moving, even when it feels like you’re standing still. The thing that makes persistence so powerful is that it’s not about how fast you move forward—it’s that you’re moving forward at all.  

One of the hardest parts of struggling with mental health is the feeling that if you’re not “better” yet, you’re somehow failing. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to see progress each day, and when things don’t change as fast as we’d like, it’s easy to get discouraged. But persistence isn’t about always moving in a straight line - it’s about accepting that our healing and growth journey aren’t linear.  

With anything worth doing, there will be setbacks, and you need to remember that it’s part of the process. There will always be days you don't want to get out of bed, but you do – that's persistence. When you call a friend or ask for help when picking up the phone feels impossible – that's persistence. When you decide to accept the way you feel without judgment – that's persistence. These small acts of persistence might not seem like much in the moment, but they add up and before you know it, YOU are the resilient one.   

With all this said you need to remember that persistence (especially in mental health) is unique to each person. What works for one person might not work for someone else, and that’s okay. Your journey is your own, and so is your version of persistence.   

Woman standing on rock and enjoying success in mountain landscape with flying birds - vector

For some, it might mean sticking with therapy for longer than originally planned. For others, it might look like setting boundaries or learning healthier ways to deal with stress. No matter how it looks, persistence is about committing to the process of taking care of yourself, even when it’s not easy.   

And persistence doesn't have to just be about getting through the tough times—it can also be about celebrating the small victories. Maybe you had a good week where you felt a little more like yourself. Or maybe you finally made that phone call you’d been putting off. Those moments matter just as much as the hard ones. They’re proof that your persistence is paying off, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.  

Think of persistence as a muscle. The more you practice it, the stronger it gets. At first, it might feel awkward or uncomfortable, but after a while, it becomes second nature. The more you show up for yourself, the more you trust that you can keep going, even when things get tough.  

So, if you’re ever feeling like persistence is too hard, or if progress seems slow or nonexistent, remember that it doesn’t have to be a huge, dramatic effort. It’s the small, consistent choices you make every day that matter. Whether it’s taking a deep breath before reacting, reaching out for support, or just giving yourself the space to rest, those acts of persistence are what will keep you moving forward. And one day, you’ll look back and realize just how far you’ve come—one small step at a time.