The Shape of Progress

What does progress look like to you today? Can it be taking a small step versus a large one? Can it be holding your ground against the current? Can it be becoming more certain that you will act even if today is not the day? Remember that progress looks different every day and every day you have a chance to see it if you only take the opportunity. Some days I feel like I accomplished nothing or that the plans I had when the day began are largely unrealized. But I wonder whether I know how to measure progress. I don’t think it’s the same as “did I check off the things on my to do list?”. Rather I think it relates to my journey along my path. Some days, all that may mean is that I stayed on the path when there were reasons to get off. Some days, the path may be gentle and downhill and I merely have to walk gently. Some days, there’s a boulder in the way and I have to climb over. And some days, I decide it’s time to take a turn. All of those can be progress. In other words, progress isn’t measured against a constant yardstick but it’s more what we choose to see. As you read this I wonder: * How would you define progress today? Do you even need to do so? * When you feel like you didn’t progress, why is that? * Can you see it differently and find a way to see change as progress or even the lack of change in the face of challenge? It’s too easy for me to make task completion the only measure of progress. If I look at the course of my life, the moments that matter the most to me are rarely the ones when I complete a task. Indeed, they often are ones that I don’t even think will matter in the moment. As we start the week, can we have a broader definition of progress and give ourselves a little more grace? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aconstantbecoming.substack.com