“We always hope for the easy fix:
the one simple change that will erase a problem in a stroke.
But few things in life work this way.
Instead, success requires making a hundred small steps go right
– one after the other, no slipups, no goofs,
everyone pitching in.”
Atul Gawande
Picking up from last week‘s post, progress is made by small consistent steps. It does not require a grand leap to move us forward. And, we sell ourselves short by not celebrating our wins along the journey. Not recognizing simple, smaller progress robs us of the joy inherent in our journey forward. Of course, the big celebrations should come at the completion of the task or job. But we need to be cognizant of keeping ourselves and others motivated and focused as we inch toward our goal lines.
The Limiting Belief We Want to Let Go Of:
● “Lack of major progress equates with failure.”
More Empowering Beliefs We Can Hold:
● “Small, steady progress is the win.”
● “Small successes add up to progress over time.”
● “I celebrate my victories no matter their size.”
● “Consistency is what matters!”
In order to rewrite our beliefs, we must understand that even the smallest progress on our goals is a win. Small bits of progress on a consistent basis add up over time and lead to larger successes. We may not be making huge leaps of progress on a daily basis, but we must believe that it is okay, or it becomes too difficult to move to the next day, the next step.
We have to stop judging our success by whether we’re making big jumps forward. We can choose to judge our success by our consistency.
Some days we will have trouble being consistent with our goals, but that’s okay, too.
● Stop!!!
● Go back to your action steps.
● Focus on the most important task first thing each day and seek to make a small amount of progress on the task at hand. “First thing” means something a little different for each of us. First thing in the morning if that is when you work best. The first thing you do when you sit at your desk after your morning chat, etc.
Action Steps
● Break down your large goals into very manageable pieces or manageable time frames.
● Each day, seek to get one small element of your goal done.
● Instead of evaluating how much progress you’re making on your goals, trust the process of doing one thing every single day.
Affirmation
I affirm that I am making progress on my goals, even if that progress may seem small and relatively insignificant today.
I choose to celebrate my small wins, knowing that each small win brings me one step closer to my overall goal.
I refuse to criticize myself for what I perceive to be a lack of progress. Instead, I focus all my attention on the steps I am making forward because each small step forward is a victory.
Next Time…
The posts will tackle the trap many of us fall into – comparing ourselves to others. This is another habit that robs us of joy while destroying our confidence. We will share tools to help us break out of this need and realize how valuable you really are.
Chat soon.
[…] Previously, we have looked at how criticizing ourselves for our lack of great progress can make us feel like giving up altogether. […]