I feel like I should put an image of a construction sign here or something. No, I’m not referring to the blog, but referring to myself…
I like to think that I’ve made great strides with my personal development… with becoming the person I want to be in my professional and personal lives. But then, I have a setback of some sort – a setback, it must be noted, that really only exists in my mind – that reminds me that I am not there yet.
I am definitely a work in progress. I will always be one. I guess the question is, am I moving towards something better – a better version of me? – or am I moving in circles and not forward? Many times I feel like it’s the latter… I feel as though I’m making progress, and then the “setback” reminds me that I’m really only moving in circles.
This sounds really dramatic, I know, but it’s not related to a major life issue or change. It’s mostly related to the idea of cutting myself some slack and (to use an overused phrase these days…) “giving myself grace”.
I tend to be really hard on myself. I think a lot of us have this tendency. I have things I want to do, to achieve, and I tend to think that it’s all or nothing. That if I’m not always going 100% full speed ahead, then it’s not worth it. And yet… I also know that I need breaks to achieve what I am aiming for. Trust me, I hear it from enough people, I see it on enough inspirational Instagram feeds…
And yet… actually taking that break, giving myself some grace, seems to be something that I really struggle with. So while I think that I’ve made those great strides in my personal development, well, many times I’m reminded that I haven’t moved that far down the path yet. Hence the setbacks, and the feeling like I’m moving in circles.
But any movement forward – even in tiny increments – is something, right? And if I stop trying, I’ll certainly never get anywhere. So I’ll keep working on myself – on (sigh) giving myself that grace. I know that I’m not going to succeed anytime soon, but maybe I can make some incremental progress down that path. And eventually – I hope – I will get there.
I can totally relate to this! I feel like I’m always going two steps forward and 1 step back, but I have to remember that the little wins do mean something.
I know… trying to remember (and highlight) those little wins can feel, well, defeating when you want the BIG win. I try (and occasionally succeed) to remind myself that every step forward is progress…right? 🙂
Makes me think of that old saying, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” No one jumps right from 1 to 1,000 without a long journey in between! (Well, most of us mortals, anyhow. 😉 ) My mom used to also always say to me when I was little, “Inch by inch it’s a cinch!” Progress is progress, even if it’s small! One step closer is a step closer than you were yesterday. And sometimes it’s okay to go backwards a little bit while you gear up for the next leap. 🙂
I love that saying from your mom! It is hard, I think, for many of us to focus on the good that’s in the small things… because they do add up to big things. Eventually. 🙂
If it’s any consolation, I think (most, if not all) people struggle with this…. a lot of people just won’t admit it 😉
I know… it’s just frustrating when it seems to happen over and over (and over again). I prefer to keep moving ahead! But sometimes life has other plans. (Heck, forget “sometimes”… it should be “most of the time”!)