How to Conquer the Challenge of Choosing Perseverance

by Mark Maenche, ACAS, MAAA, CIC, CRM

Why is life so challenging and difficult at times? I ask myself this question, and I struggle to find a satisfactory answer. For many of us, 2020 has brought on circumstances that take “challenge” to a whole new level! Misinformation and uncertainty have wreaked havoc on the best-laid plans in our personal and professional lives. Graduations, weddings, funerals, exams, promotions – many have been put on hold or eliminated entirely as we wait for some concrete picture of what the future will hold.

As actuarial exam candidates, the uncertainty and confusion that this brings to our lives can be greatly upsetting. We are accustomed to spending hundreds of hours studying and the routine of semi-annual exam sittings. Amidst the chaos it would be simple to just give up on choices that seem like they have little relevance. It is easy to consider the possibility of falling into a pit of indecision and inaction.

Instead, we must choose to persevere. Really? Yes. Because the challenge encountered is difficult, we must make a conscious decision to move forward. It is not easy and will, many times, require great effort. In fact, we should expect our commitment to persevere to be challenged on a regular basis.

Consider these four ways that can help us make the choice to persevere:

  • Begin with the end in mind — This principle is from the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It is one of the first stepping stones in pursuing a goal. Bringing specific definition to where we want to end up gives us the motivation to persevere through adversity and frustration. As circumstances change or new information is available, it is important to reevaluate our goals and make changes if necessary. We probably did not think that our initial goal of studying for a Spring exam would extend all the way to the Fall sitting. But maintaining focus on the finish line keeps us from getting off course.
  • Shift our perspective — It does not take much effort at all to see the negative things around us. Being pessimistic is an easy choice. However, making an effort to see the positive requires us to be intentional. We often have to apply our ingenuity to a situation to see it from other angles. Believing the best about a situation or event will reframe our attitude and help us to keep moving forward. The CAS saw computer-based testing (CBT) as the future of exams and, as such, has committed a lot of time and resources to make this pivot. The transition is happening faster than planned due to the pandemic but confidence is high. Recognizing the potential for CBT requires a choice to view the situation from an optimistic viewpoint.
  • Trust the process — This phrase has gained cultural popularity over the past several years arising from the leadership of the Philadelphia 76ers. It is the language that they use to describe their method of building an NBA-contender. It is not unlike our journey as actuarial students. We should have faith that the exam process will help shape our character and help establish the professional knowledge we need for the future. It takes patience to trust that the steps we are taking today will lead us where we want to go.
  • Choices lead, feelings follow — Our feelings can be very fickle. They could lead us down some dark roads if we follow them exclusively. Using our own diligence and gathering wisdom from those we trust can help us to make choices that will lead in a positive direction. As we begin moving, our feelings will be influenced by our progress and infuse hope in our attitude. After a challenging season, time and distance will help color the situation beyond the emotions we experienced during those events.

While 2020 is providing us a tremendous number of difficulties to overcome, giving up merely because something is challenging is almost never the best choice. Perseverance is the only option if we have evaluated our decisions and are convinced that the path we are on is the right one. Victory comes to those who fight through the temptation to give up and come out on the other side a changed person.