Successfully Learn Youdao - The Ten Key Points for Success

Author: Chen Zhan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Section 3: Accompanying Interest and Perseverance Will Lead You to Success
In the Xingshun Township, Jiguan Ridge, Wulong County, along the Wujiang River navigation channel of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, a historically rare massive rockslide occurred on April 3, 1994. Laborers such as Zeng Suhua were buried under the collapsing rocks in a cave. One of the companions died after enduring for 34 days, while another, who could have been rescued on the 40th day, stopped breathing. However, Zeng Suhua repeatedly told himself: "I must not collapse, I must hold on." He survived the 40 days of hell in the cave, suffering from oxygen deprivation, hunger, cold, and immersion in icy water, and was finally rescued, setting a world Guinness record for surviving being buried alive for 40 days.
I. Perseverance as the Ladder to Success
Perseverance is the ladder to success. The path to success is often filled with thorns and uneven terrain, presenting numerous obstacles and dangers. This requires cultivating strong perseverance. Perseverance is the bridge to realizing ideals, the boat to achieving success, and the ladder to climbing to the pinnacle of achievement. Through countless facts in history, we have learned that high-achieving individuals not only significantly surpass low-achieving ones in terms of ideals, beliefs, drive, and self-confidence but also excel in psychological resilience and an indomitable will. Those who have achieved greatness are invariably endowed with unwavering determination and steadfast perseverance.
In ancient China, the great medical scientist Li Shizhen spent 27 years writing Compendium of Materia Medica; Charles Darwin took 15 years to write On the Origin of Species; Nicolaus Copernicus devoted 30 years to On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres; the great writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent 15 years on Faust, while Guo Moruo took 30 years to translate it; and Karl Marx spent 40 years writing Capital. None of these monumental achievements by these global giants were without the fusion of ideals, wisdom, and perseverance.
Some scientists even sacrificed blood and life to uphold truth. For example, William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood and was roasted alive by religious fanatics for two hours; Giordano Bruno proposed the idea of an infinite universe without a center and was imprisoned by the Roman Inquisition for seven years, later being sentenced to the stake. Unyielding perseverance was a crucial factor in their becoming giants.
Cultivating strong perseverance should start from a young age. An educator conducted an experiment: he gathered some children and presented them with a pile of candies and other delicious treats, telling them, "You cannot eat these until I return. You may only eat them after I come back." After the educator left, some children could not resist and ate the candies. Later, the educator conducted a follow-up study and found that those who had restrained themselves and resisted eating the candies before his return grew up to be more successful and accomplished.
As the saying goes, "A child at three reveals the man at seven." So, how can one cultivate and strengthen willpower? It should be enhanced in the following four aspects:
(1) Enhance consciousness. A person's consciousness in engaging in an activity often stems from interests and hobbies. However, maintaining consciousness in the face of arduous, tedious, and challenging tasks requires the driving force of one's own grand ideals and beliefs—a tremendous spiritual motivation.
At a young age, the master of performing arts Mei Lanfang was determined to dedicate himself to the art of Peking Opera. He imposed strict self-discipline on himself, demanding daily