My thoughts on progress
Some people may be perfectly happy where they are in their lives. Obviously that's okay. Whether you want to make progress on yourself has no impact on me. If that is you, maybe this writing is not for you, and again, that's okay. All of us having the same thoughts and aspirations would make us pretty boring wouldn't it?
Progress does not have to be, and will most likely not be, instantaneous. It may not even be noticeable for quite some time. We have all heard progress comes in incremental changes, eventually adding up to something bigger. This is what makes progress so hard. It gives almost no instant gratification. This is not a new discovery. Progress in the gym takes months. And that progress may be something only you notice. Will my co-worker notice if I walk into a room, and am able to bench press slightly more more than I was able to the week before? Obviously not. But I do. I notice. Will anyone besides my immediate family ever know whether I spend hours a week mediating, journaling, writing, and reflecting? Absolutely not. But I do.
The moment we start trying to make progress for others, rather than ourselves, it starts to feel like progress isnât being made at all. Will others know how much clearer my mind feels, and how much more fulfilling my life feels, following the life changes I made a few years ago? No. Will my wife and kids? Maybe, but most likely not to the full extent. But I know. And I can feel the progress that has been made. And I know how far I want to go.
Surround yourself with people who support you changing your life slowly. Donât try to find people that are going to do it for you. You will search for a lifetime. Donât allow people to make you feel like your progress isnât good enough. Because if you are making any progress, and you are better than you were yesterday, then you are heading in the right direction.
The quote âIf youâre not progressing, then youâre falling behind,â tells us that there are two paths. 1. You are making progress. 2. You are not making progress. There is no 1.5. There is no in between. Itâs 0 or 1. On or off. You are either doing it, or you are not doing it. If all you do is take one step forward today, then you are in a better spot than yesterday. Eat one less unhealthy thing. Write one sentence in a journal. Take one moment off your phone to reflect before bed. Run one mile. Walk one mile. Do one thing for someone you love. Do one thing for a random stranger. Or do one thing for yourself.
You donât need to change your life in a day. You just need to do one more thing. Right now. Be the hero of this moment, not the hero of tomorrow.