"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. . . . The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." —Calvin Coolidge

While I am by no means an aficionado of football, I trust that I am not alone in my opinion that the recent Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals was the sort of match that fans were hoping to see.

While fans' opinions may vary depending on one's team loyalty, I had no favorite player or team, so it is easy for me to say the following with no bias: I believe when players reach the level of extraordinary talent that was evident in both teams, the game ceases being solely about talent and it becomes as much about heart, perseverance and sheer tenacity.

There can be no doubt that in their peak moments these guys truly love what they do. The passion oozes though their pores. The team with the most talent did not necessarily win the Super Bowl; the team with the most heart, perseverance and tenacity won.

Such is the case with you and me. While we may or may not be athletes, we are all players in the game called life.

Every time you "suit up" and go to work you are in the game. Each thing you do for your family or others is your contribution to a team effort.

The question is, beyond your natural talent, your training and learned knowledge, is there heart in your game?

Do you love what you do? Perhaps most importantly, on those days when you feel like throwing in the towel, do persistence and determination kick in to get you through?

We all know these are particularly tough times for the majority of people, not just in our country but around the world. Between an ailing economy and multiple wars, it's easy to get caught in a vortex of negativity that can influence our predominate attitude about life.

When Calvin Coolidge said that persistence and determination alone are omnipotent, he meant they were all powerful and that, beyond all other possible fields of influence, it is the altitude of our attitude that lifts us into a transcendent consciousness that opens the portals through which our personal victories in life are realized.

The game I'm talking about isn't a competition with others— it's about living up to the full potential within us that came as an inherent part of our being when we were born. I believe this potential is nothing less than the essence of God seeking to take form in our life in ways that fulfill our purpose for being.

This seems to be how the universe works as well. Living things that persist, thrive; living things that don't persist just sort of endure and survive, getting by until it's time to die. They never really "live."

My point is, the same power that fired up the Steelers in those final few seconds of the game and hurled them to victory is available to you and me the moment we decide to take action and get into the game with abandon.

It is our passion, persistence, determination and love for the game of life that lights the fuse that ignites the power.

Amelia Earhart wrote, "The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life, and the procedure, the process, is its own reward."

As a mindfulness practice today I challenge you to become fully engaged and bring persistence, passion and tenacity into the game called life.

Trust the process. Trust that there lies within you an Intelligence that knows how to lift you to extraordinary heights of success.

The only thing required of you is that you get off the bench and dive into the game and play with all your heart, knowing and trusting the universe is cheering you on. Then become witness to the greatness of who you really are. Press on, indeed.

Dennis Merritt Jones is a local spiritual mentor, keynote speaker and author of the book "The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life." Contact him at www.DennisMerrittJones.com.