Some mornings I do an exercise video first thing in the morning, when I both want to feel on top of it and feel fat. I was tapping my foot impatiently through the lady’s disclaimer about consulting my physician and beginning slowly and carefully.
But, of course she has a point. If I started with the “advanced” girl in the back, lifting weights and adding extra actions when I can barely maintain my balance without weights, I would injure myself. And, the same is true in life, too.
As we approach the beginning of a new year, with all its hopes for fresh starts, new resolutions, and better consistency, we need to remember to “stick to our level” as the workout video instructor says throughout the video. Sticking to our level is not depressing, it is how we grow. We do the beginner level, and then we realize we are able to move on to intermediate! Maybe someday we can even do the advanced level. But we have to start where we are, not where we wish we were.
Festina lente: make haste slowly.
Life is exercise; therefore, don’t jump from beginner to advanced in the space of a day.
My son, learning takes time. It is ok that it times time and work to master a math lesson. It is ok that it takes three or four drafts to write your speeches and fable compositions.
Myself, there is nothing magical about the calendar rolling over to 2014. You are still the same person you were the day before. Commit to training and improving, but don’t jump straight into the deep end.
Life is exercise; therefore, think about progression rather than comparisons.
My son, it is easy to see others’ finished work and judge your first draft by that standard. But you don’t know the work that went in behind the scenes to get to that finished work. However, you can see each of your own drafts and how each one is better than the one before. Improving your work, practicing your math facts, improving your time, these are the measures that should encourage you.
Myself, you are actually not being judged by the ideal in your head about how things should be. You are being judged with how you use the time and resources that are in front of you right now.
Life is exercise; therefore, you’ll want to skip days and chicken out and slack off, but that makes you weaker rather than stronger.
My son, every choice counts. It’s normal to want to do the minimum amount required, but how much you improve will be proportional to the effort you put forth.
Myself, every choice counts. It’s normal to want to do the minimum amount required, but how much you improve will be proportional to the effort you put forth. It’s just the way it works.
Found it interesting that this article also came across my feed today. Summary: forget setting goals, focus on systems instead. http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230333
I’ve seen that article and I thought it was pretty good. What do you think?
I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now, but have never commented before. But this post was so timely and helpful as I was writing my 2014 goals. Especially the end part, “start the new year committed to beginning where you are, not where you wish you were. Start the new year ready to move in good directions, not hoping to arrive at the end before you’ve begun.”
So thank you for sharing! I’m also planning on participating in the book club as time permits.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Virginia! I need to hear this advice as much as anyone. :) I already feel “behind” starting off the year, but I am just at the beginning, making a start. It’s about progress. I hope your year goes well and that you’ll be able to join the book club!