Keeping our commitments and therefore achieving our goals is difficult. Because we give in to procrastination, or because we give up for fear of failure or because it becomes too difficult. So how can you be as determined as ever and never give up? Here are 7 powerful tips to help you see your projects and goals through to the end.

1 – Have the right objective to have an iron will

There are a lot of projects and goals that we give up on, because they’re not the right ones.

That is, we like them, but they’re not really useful to us. Like learning Japanese, when we don’t plan to live there one day, and maybe can’t even afford to go on vacation there for several years.

There are goals that are useful, but which we don’t like: like getting back into sport and losing our extra 5 kilos. The problem is, we don’t like sport.

And that’s when it’s time to realize that we’re human beings, not machines.

And that if we don’t like our goal and it’s not useful to us, then it’s no wonder we don’t have the iron will to achieve it. It’s normal, it’s human.

That’s why it’s time for you to learn how to set the right goal for yourself: a goal that both pleases you AND is useful to you.

Once you’ve found that right goal, then you’ll have an iron will!

2 – Integrate your project into your daily life for iron willpower

What’s more, we need to ensure that our goal fits in with our daily life.

For example: if we’re in the process of retraining, now might not be the time to learn Japanese or prepare for our future road-trip through Europe.

One goal at a time, and above all a goal that’s relevant to our current life.

Example: let’s imagine that the local swimming pool is closed for the year, so now might not be the time to set ourselves the goal of practicing freestyle swimming.

In other words, to have an iron will, you need to give yourself ALL the means to succeed.

So think hard about your goal. Make sure it fits in with your current life, i.e. that you have the time, skills and resources to achieve it.

3 – Don’t expect support from those around you

Once we’ve got the right project, the right goal, and we’re off and running, other difficulties arise. A number of them, and they’re pretty tough.

The first is the lack of interest and encouragement from those around us.

We’re embarking on a new project, we’re enthusiastic and we want to tell everyone about it. The problem is that the people around us are rather skeptical, sometimes even mocking.

And that’s when we start to doubt our project and ourselves.

So, to have an iron will, it’s time to accept that those around us won’t support us, or even mock us.

So focus on yourself and make your own path, the one that suits you and reflects you.

4 – Don’t listen too much to other people’s opinions and follow your instincts.

Then there will be people telling you what to do and how to do it. People you know, but also a whole bunch of people you don’t know, who you haven’t asked and who position themselves as so-called “experts”. Don’t listen to any of these people.

Follow your instincts. Do things your own way and at your own pace. Go step by step and learn for yourself.

Then feel free to contact and work with real experts. But stop wasting your time with other people’s opinions. Instead, learn to trust yourself.

Because if you listen too much to others, you’ll burn out, doubt your efforts and results, and lack the willpower of iron.

5 – Cry when you fail, but always get back up to keep your iron will.

I won’t hide it from you: failure hurts. Yes, when the results don’t live up to our expectations, when things don’t go at all according to plan, it hurts.

So have a good cry. Have a good cry and go on!

Because being strong-willed isn’t about pretending it doesn’t hurt. Having an iron will means knowing how to get up when it hurts.

6 – Have a long-term vision to have an iron will

The goals we achieve are the ones that change our lives over the long term. In fact, small goals are the ones we give up on most easily and completely casually.

On the other hand, goals that concern our future life: like a new job, a new house, a beautiful vegetable garden, a language spoken in a new host country… Here, we show an iron will.

The problem is, we’re told not to dream too big. But that’s the only way to achieve your goals, the ones that really count.

So dream big. Have a long-term vision and you’ll have the willpower to succeed. Believe me!

7 – Persevere and don’t procrastinate

Whatever you think, whatever the experts tell you, your goal will take much longer than you think or want.

It’s going to be long, it’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be worth it!

So persevere for as long as you need to. Bounce back from every setback, do one more action, keep going one more day. That’s what it means to have an iron will.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Taking action: the 5 fears that prevent us from getting started
Discover Never give up on your dreams!: 12 tips for making them come true

I also recommend this inspiring book on the subject:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand:

This inspiring book tells the incredible real-life account of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete turned bombardier during the Second World War, who managed to survive a plane crash, drifting at sea and imprisonment in Japan. At the heart of the story lies his resilience and iron will.
The author is a great writer. She tells this remarkable story perfectly.
Everyone should read this book!

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself.