This insight is based on my own experience with consistency, comparison, and questioning my progress.
Lately, I’ve been going through what some people call a mental block. I’ve found it difficult to stay consistent, improve my habits, and become the person I want to be.
Recently, my best friend sat me down and told me something I needed to hear: I am making progress. It just isn’t always obvious to me.
The first step is often the hardest part of any process, but simply starting can eventually lead to something great. If you’ve already taken that first step and you’re making even a small effort to stay consistent, you may be further ahead than you realize.
Sometimes, putting just 20 or 30 minutes of focused effort into something you want to pursue is enough. You may feel as though you should be working on it for hours every day, especially if you hope to eventually turn it into your career. But pushing yourself too hard can quickly lead to burnout.
A small amount of progress each day can take you further than three exhausting work sessions that last six hours each, especially if those sessions leave you so drained that you don’t return to your goal for another month. Progress doesn’t always require long hours. Sometimes, it simply requires showing up again tomorrow.
I have a bad habit of comparing myself and my progress to other people. I see entrepreneurs who seem to work endless hours to achieve their goals or produce far more content than I can. If I’m being honest, what I feel is envy.
Envy can be useful when you redirect it into inspiration, curiosity, or action. But it becomes destructive when you turn it inward and allow it to feed thoughts that tell you you’re falling behind or aren’t doing enough.
When you stop measuring your progress against someone else’s, it becomes easier to stay consistent. Constant comparison consumes valuable mental energy. That energy could be spent improving your habits, developing your skills, and pursuing the success you want. Your energy is better spent building your own path than judging it against somebody else’s.
The next time you feel like you aren’t working hard enough, should be further ahead, or simply aren’t accomplishing enough, remember that making even a little progress is better than making none at all.
Every step forward brings you closer to your goals and helps you become the person you want to be. It is not only about reaching the destination. It is also about the journey and the process of becoming better along the way.
Focus on improving your process and continuing to move forward. When you do that consistently, the results will eventually speak for themselves.
Thank you for reading this Next Iteration Insight. It has been a while since I last published an article, but I’m glad to be writing again. I hope you’ll come back for the next one.