Consistent Improvement
My trainer told me the other day "Rick, you like to make slow progress."
I didn't take offense to it. In fact, I rather like it.
Imagine if you can pick any character trait you would like to change, and instead of trying to reverse it on a "30 day plan" or whatever, you instead just try to improve it consistently just 1% a week for the rest of your life.
In my view, it's kind of a magical thought. Because for that entire period, you would be ascending and improving.
Imagine if you applied this logic to anything you struggle with - patience, mindfulness, procrastination, compassion, anger, etc.
After 1 month you probably wouldn't notice any change, but you may have picked up at least 1 new habit.
After 3 months perhaps you will notice some slight changes.
After 6 months others can definitely tell something's different.
After a year, you probably wouldn't even recognize your former self.
The key to all this is that you are not doing this for others. You are doing this because you value whatever it is you are doing, and you are constantly ascending.
Drew Moore echoes this, saying “There are several benefits to slow progress that many do not realize. The first, it requires self discipline. This is true whether you work out with a trainer or on your own because the trainer will not be with you after dinner when that desert is calling your name. The second, is the visibility of progress over long periods of time will make your workouts part of your life, rather than a phase that many people fall victim to.”
Enda Breslin adds “In addition, your success kind of surprises you. You don't realize you've accumulated so many small steps that when you look back you see the great progress. You perceive big success for what seemed little investment. Endorphin rush.”
Kevin Taddeo put it another way, “This reminds me of the choice story of the million dollars right away or start with a penny and double it every day for 30 days.” David Hoos added onto this, saying “It's like compound interest. 1% better every day adds up!”
