Move the needle forward
We live in an all-or-nothing society where if we don’t move fast somehow it’s not seen as worthy. There’s no definitive truth that speed and doing all the things is how we get ahead, however, it’s the operating system in which society tends to navigate the world.
We tend to value ourselves by how productive we are. We feel good when we got a lot done. As if productivity was the measure of success. Seriously!? While sometimes the things we accomplish support us, a lot of the time it’s just more on our plate. We’re in default modes working like cogs. Moving too fast to ensure we’re working towards the right thing.
I’m not sure if we lack discernment or fear what others will think if we’re not trapped in the doing. I suspect we don’t think we’re worthy if we haven’t been productive. It’s how we’ve been trained through life. Take a test and move on to the next subject. Everyone else around us is so productive so we ask, what’s wrong with me if I’m not?—at least that’s a story we tell ourselves.
We get trapped in a cycle of not feeling good enough, yet that completely misses the mark.
We must remind ourselves we’re not in this for instant gratification or quick fixes, but for the long game. Why create a world that’s not sustainable, punishing our own health and mental well-being to the limits in the process? Probably because it’s the only world we know. Very few people show us there’s another way.
Change isn’t always easy. In fact, there can be quite a bit of discomfort. While society may lead us to think we’re doing something wrong, this actually can be an indicator that we’re doing something right. Change is being open to doing things differently from how they’ve always been done, and breaking the patterns and habits that have kept us too comfortable. That feeling of safety can keep us feeling small.
But how do we break out of this cycle?
We take small steps. One step in front of the other. They need not be big steps, or giant leaps (those can actually take more time to recover from). The secret is in small steps over time. It’s not about getting it all right or perfect the first time. It’s about progress over time.
Consistency helps, but it need not be daily—just more days than not. Rules can be a guide and a support, but we also don’t want anything so strict that causes us to be hard on ourselves if for some reason life happens and we get derailed. We must create a space to grant ourselves grace.
What we want is to keep moving the needle forward.
Do not underestimate the power of incremental change. The biggest growth and success may not happen overnight. The biggest growth may actually happen when we slow down. Change is happening behind the scenes when we learn to show up for ourselves in small ways, over time. We’re showing the universe we’re not messing around, but we’re here to play.
Just like a seed taking root, it can take time. When it does sprout it feels fast and magical.
Sometimes progress involves a shedding of how you’ve always shown up in the world, and how others may know you. Remember, you know you best. This does not have to happen overnight, however, one day you may wake up to say ENOUGH, I no longer can stay stuck.
Even without a clear goal, you can still move the needle forward. All you need is one small step.
Stop accepting and saying yes to the things that you don’t want in life anymore or drain your energy. If it’s something you have to do, experiment with a way of doing it in a new way that feels more aligned. It’s too easy to get sucked in by others and how things have always been done. We must get out of the mentality of having to be good and perfect at everything, and the all-or-nothing mentality.
What are you going to do TODAY to move the needle forward?
Mapping Your Path is my 3-month experience that supports people on their journeys to make real progress in the areas where they feel pulled towards. There is something truly powerful when you do this work in community. You realize you’re not alone, and you uncover magical connections along the way. The next cohort opens for enrollment in May. Sign up to be the first to be notified when doors open.