Get off the Plateau

During my first undergraduate year, I took a biology class.? The class reviewed evolution and covered how different species have evolved from common ancestors.? One of my preconceived understandings around evolution is that it was slow and linear: that it happens gradually through time.? During that class it was a revelation to me that most evolutions are not linear but have breakthroughs followed by long periods of plateaus.

?

One example noted was that of the peppered moth in the United Kingdom during the 1800’s industrial revolution.? Before the industrial revolution the peppered moth was a white moth with black specks on it. As the industrial revolution progressed this era became more and more reliant on the burning of coal which caused significant air pollution. During this period the peppered moth population adopted a startling trait that changed its color from white with black specks to a solid black coloring.? The black moth blended into the surroundings and survived to pass on its genetic pattern. This change happened in a matter of decades and not in a matter of centuries.? Moths that had been around for thousands of years underwent a massive change within a very short period of time allowing them to adapt to their environment.?

?

I have seen this same pattern of evolution in my life and in my personal growth. I had always expected growth to come in gradual increments over time-- with progress and growth happening on a gentle incline. The more I worked on myself I noticed that it’s not like that at all. Rather, it resembles the evolution pattern where I have periods of no change, a plateau, and then instances of dramatic change and growth. Instead of looking like a gradual slope of improvement it looks like a set of stairs, with moments of growth and excitement, and times of stalled progress and frustration.?

?

Why is understanding progress in this light so important?? When I am making progress, it is exciting, and it feels like everything is going my way.? I feel like I can achieve anything if I am just given time.? These massive leaps of progress feel so good, but they are an illusion.? You are not always going to grow at that same rate.? During these growth periods you need to know that plateaus usually follow. This might seem like a downer, but it helps you realize something very important while you are on that plateau.

?

When you are on the plateau and nothing seems to be going your way, it may feel like one step forward and two steps backward. Looking back while on the plateau may feel like you have never really made any progress.? The flatness of the plateau hides the edge and the growth that was before it.? You may begin to believe that you will never make progress again.? The plateau hides the understanding that you are not as ineffective as you believe yourself to be just as you may feel unstoppable during the rapid growth cycles.?

?

Now that we understand that growth comes through cycles of increase and plateaus of stagnancy, how do we make the plateaus shorter and growth more frequent?

?

See in Panoramic Sight

When we reach a plateau the first thing we usually do is to look around at our immediate surroundings.? This is the flat area that surrounds us.? We don’t look at the progress we have made to get where we are at.? When you take a second to reflect on the things you have had to overcome to get on the plateau you will realize that you have made progress just to get there. You NEVER want to miss the progress you have made.? Really SEE the growth you have made rather than rationalize it away with comparisons or being short-sighted.? A good activity is to reflect on specific times where you have seen improvement and success.? This will allow you to build your mental bank account for the confidence you will need to get off the plateau. It is part of evolving.

?

?

Refocus, and Lean into Success

When we are on the plateau the first thing we need to do is to refocus.? We need to go to what helped us find success in the past.? Going back to the basics allow us to refocus on the things that helped us prior to the plateau.? This is the best starting point because we found success in that place.? When we start from this focused spot, we can remove the things that might be holding us back or distracting us.? Let go of the unnecessary distractions. Let go of the things you know are holding you on the plateau and focus first on what got you there.?

?

Another important part of refocusing is to realize that in life there are both ups and downs.? When you are on an up everything is good. You may even forget there are downs.? When you are in a down you can forget that there were ever ups.? Refocusing allows you to get back to the spot that started the up in the first place.? Once you have gotten back to the basics you next have to find the next spark.?

?

Spark

Finding the spark is the key to getting off the plateau you are on.? Now that you are free of distractions and doing what you know you need to do, you can find that spark of inspiration that will help take you off the plateau and into growth again.? This inspiration only comes to those who are open to it.? You must be curious about new lines of thinking and new ways of doing.? Sometimes it might be doing something you feared and have put off.? Why have you put it off?? What has been holding you back?? Is the answer fear? ?Do you just need to move through fear? If you are having a hard time finding the spark-- get curious! Be on the lookout for sparks and grab a hold of them.? Not every idea or every thought will take you off the plateau, but one of them will take you off eventually. ?Keep reaching for those ideas, those concepts, those thoughts and get curious around them. Seize the opportunity when you know you have found that spark so you can get off the Plateau.?