Small Steps = Steady Progress

Small Steps = Steady Progress

Happy Friday! Are you gearing up for the New Year? Most people are, and guess what? That’s perfectly fine and typically normal. The thing about life is that in many places across the globe, we use metrics to measure our life and progress. So whether it be a calendar, our credit scores, bank accounts, or in this case, the new year, welcome to 2023. This week, I want to remind you (and myself) that slow and steady is perfectly fine. You are not in a race with anyone but yourself. When possible, we must try our best to do what makes us happy, aligns with our values, and keeps the lights on. Anything more is just that; more.

We typically adjust to our salaries no matter what they are. We adapt our clothing based on our body weight. And we even assimilate into the dominant groups to which we are exposed. The bottom line is that the goal should be working towards what brings us joy, what pays the bills, and how we can contribute to others. Money is needed, but too much can corrupt one's character. Do not believe me? Research lottery winners, one-hit wonders, and other easy-come, easy-go situations.

Goals for the new year are great but pacing yourself will reduce burnout and can increase your success towards your goals. Instead of thrusting yourself into hardcore fitness, starvations, or quitting your job without securing something else or some other extreme…why not plan your goals and work towards them? Trust me; social media will have you fooled. Nothing happens overnight that is easily maintained. We all, in some aspect, have an opportunity to increase our patience in one area or another when it comes to goal setting.

Imagine if a plane did not take time to adjust to the pressure change…it would not be a pleasant trip and could even be fatal. Think of the times you rode in an elevator, and it went too fast, or you were driving up mountains, and your ears popped. The point is that we need time to adjust to increases, decreases, and significant changes in our life journey. And sometimes, we need help, and that is okay as well.

I’m not saying you should not follow your intuition, but we have so much knowledge at our fingertips that it makes no sense for us not to research, confirm and then make informed decisions. I am a Forrest Gump lover; life is like a box of chocolates, and you never know what you will get. However, if you prepare for the good, bad, and ugly, you make yourself better equipped to show humility and grace during your mountain top, and you can weather the valleys we all face.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. ~Lao-tzu

Giant steps and grandiose things only sometimes equal success. Small steps and steady progress are typically easier to navigate and, most importantly, maintain. Think of the old fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, by Aesop, the morale of the story is that patience and hard work pay off more than egregious behavior and recklessness. For those who need a refresher or who have not read the short story, it is as follows:

The Hare & the Tortoise

A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.

"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.

"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run you a race and prove it."

The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but he agreed for the fun of it. So, the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.

The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.

The Tortoise, meanwhile, kept going slowly but steadily and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully, and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time. The race is not always given to the swift.

Remember, our bodies can withstand many things, but the goal is to convince our minds. Once you get the mind, the body will follow. Even when the process is slow, quitting or stopping will not speed up the process. You don’t have to go fast… you just have to go. So, in the midst of 2023 big goals and big plans, take time to celebrate every milestone. Stop and learn from your mistakes and make magic happen; small steps = steady progress!

“Slow and steady wins the race.” ~ Aesop