Have you ever had the notion that despite all your efforts, you always wind up back at square one?
I know I do.
But how would this be so?
Let’s say you count from 1 to 99, as you say each number, they sound different, they look different and they even feel different. But what happens when you reach 100? Well, the cycle begins all over again, with the only difference being you say “one hundred” in front of each number this time around.
Sure, 100 to 199 is going to feel repetitive because it’s essentially the same series of numbers you counted before with the addition of a couple words. 200 to 299 might feel even more tedious, and don’t get me started on the 300s and beyond.
But are you really going in a circle, back to square one with 101, 201 or 301? No. You are making progress by increments of 100 each cycle and if you mapped out those increments on a graph, you’d surely see an upward trajectory.
That’s how it is with progress. We notice our initial steps because they are new and different but once enough time passes and we form a routine from those steps they become less noticeable. Progress tends to feel cyclical, just like numbers, and guaranteed, sometimes you are going to feel like you’re right back where you started.
But you’re not.
We don’t count 1 to 99 and then start all over at zero again, do we? No, we count 100, 101, 102, 103…. And just like graphing numbers, if we were to graph our progress, we’d see the trajectory of our actions much more clearly.
So, the next time you are feeling down in the dumps and like you haven’t made any progress, just remember that so much of our progress can appear invisible to us, but whether visible or not, it has led you to a place that is greater than where you were before.
There is no going back to Square One.
Want to comment on this story? Join the discussion on Facebook
If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read, please consider signing up for my twice-a-month Newsletter for more content like this OR giving me a follow at one of my socials below. Thank you for reading.
JASON FREEMAN is a Professional Speaker and the proud owner of a Speech Impediment. He is also the author of “Awkwardly Awesome: Embracing My Imperfect Best” and a Perseverance Coach.
He excites and encourages his audience to break through the barriers of their own limitations using a method he created, called “Doing your Imperfect Best ™”.
His Imperfect TEDx Talk can be viewed here.
Recent Comments